Case Name in Immigration Case - Unavailable

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW MEXICO
HUIPING ZOU,
Petitioner,
v. 2:26-cv-01142-KG-DLM
DORA CASTRO, et al.,
Respondents.
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
This matter is before the Court on Huiping Zou’s Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus,
Doc. 1, and the Government’s Response, Doc. 10. Because Petitioner presents a purely legal
question, the Court declines to hold a hearing, see 28 U.S.C. § 2243, and grants his petition for
the reasons below.
I. Background
Petitioner, a native and citizen of China, entered the United States in 2024 without
inspection or parole. Doc. 1 at 10; Doc. 10 at 2. Due to years of persecution in China, he is now
pursuing an asylum claim. Id. Prior to his detention, he resided in Queens, New York and
lawfully worked restaurant jobs under an Employment Authorization Document. Doc. 1 at 10.
He has no criminal history and has complied with all Immigration and Customs Enforcement
(“ICE”) reporting requirements. Id.
On November 17, 2025, Petitioner attended a regularly scheduled ICE check-in. Id. ICE
arrested Petitioner and transported him to the Otero County Processing Center in Chaparral, New
Mexico, where he remains. Id. The Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) placed him in
removal proceedings under 8 U.S.C. § 1229a, charging him as inadmissible for entering the
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United States without inspection. Id. ICE issued a custody determination without a meaningful
opportunity to post bond. Id. at 11.
Petitioner argues that his detention violates the Immigration and Nationality Act (“INA”)
and the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. See Doc. 1 at 12–14. He seeks immediate
release. Id. at 15. The Government opposes the petition. See Doc. 10.
II. Standard of Review
A petition for a writ of habeas corpus seeks “release from unlawful physical
confinement.” Preiser v. Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 475, 485 (1973). Habeas corpus review is
available if a noncitizen is “in custody in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the
United States.” 28 U.S.C. § 2241(c)(3); see also Zadvydas v. Davis, 533 U.S. 678, 687 (2001).
III. Analysis
The Court concludes that (A) Petitioner’s detention violates the INA, (B) Petitioner’s
detention violates the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment, and (C) release is warranted.
A. Petitioner’s detention violates the INA.
The INA establishes distinct detention regimes depending on whether a noncitizen is
“seeking admission” to the United States. See Jennings v. Rodriguez, 583 U.S. 281, 288–89
(2018). First, 8 U.S.C. § 1225 governs noncitizens detained at a port of entry or shortly after
entry, who are treated as “[noncitizens] seeking admission into the country.” Dep’t of Homeland
Sec. v. Thuraissigiam, 591 U.S. 103, 140 (2020). Absent exceptions irrelevant here, § 1225
“mandates detention and affords no bond hearing.” Pu Sacvin v. De Anda-Ybarra, 2025 WL
3187432, at *1 (D.N.M.). This regime includes noncitizens who express a fear of persecution
during expedited removal and “shall be detained” while their credible-fear claims are
adjudicated. See 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(1)(B)(iii)(IV).
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By contrast, 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a) sets forth “the default rule” for detaining noncitizens
“already in the country.” Jennings, 583 U.S. at 303. Section § 1226(a) authorizes the arrest and
detention of noncitizens, “on a warrant issued by the Attorney General...pending a decision on
whether [they are] to be removed.” Under federal regulations, a noncitizen detained under
§ 1226(a) is entitled to an individualized bond hearing at the “outset of detention.” Jennings,
583 U.S. at 306.
Consistent with the overwhelming majority of district courts to consider the issue, the
Court concludes that § 1226(a) governs here.1 See Barco Mercado v. Francis, 2025 WL
3295903, at *13 (S.D.N.Y.) (collecting 362 district-court opinions nationwide and noting that
challengers prevailed in at least 350 of them, in decisions by over 160 judges across fifty courts).
Petitioner entered the United States in 2022 and timely pursued an asylum claim. Doc. 1 at 10.
He has worked lawfully, has no criminal history, and has complied with all immigration
requirements. Id. ICE arrested him at a routine check-in and placed him in removal proceedings
under § 1229a—those removal proceedings remain ongoing. Id. Therefore, Petitioner is a
noncitizen detained “pending a decision on whether [he is] to be removed,” and his detention is
governed by § 1226(a). See Jennings, 583 U.S. at 303 (2018). Petitioner’s continued detention
without a meaningful bond determination is unlawful under the INA.
Moreover, this Court’s prior decisions control. The Government concedes that the
material facts here are “substantially similar” to those in Patel v. Noem, 2026 WL 103163
1 There is currently a circuit split on this issue. The Second Circuit has held that
individuals like Petitioner are entitled to a bond hearing under 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a). See Cunha v.
Freden, --- F.4th ----, 2026 WL 1146044 (2d Cir. 2026). The Fifth and Eighth Circuits have
reached the opposite conclusion. See Buenrostro-Mendez v. Bondi, 166 F.4th 494 (5th Cir.
2026); Avila v. Bondi, 170 F.4th 1128 (8th Cir. 2026). The Tenth Circuit has not yet addressed
the question.
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(D.N.M.), where the Court concluded that § 1226 governs. Doc. 10 at 2. The Court has reached
the same conclusion in numerous similar cases. See, e.g., Pu Sacvin v. De Anda-Ybarra, 2025
WL 3187432, at *3 (D.N.M.); Arroyo Lopez v. Noem, 2026 WL 776332, at *3 (D.N.M.); Aguilar
v. Lyons, 2026 WL 851237, at *2 (D.N.M.). Because the Government offers no new basis for
Petitioner’s continued detention, Petitioner is entitled to relief.
B. Petitioner’s detention violates the Due Process Clause.
The Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause prohibits the Government from depriving
any person of “life, liberty, or property, without due process of law[.]” U.S. Const. amend. V.
“Freedom from imprisonment—from government custody, detention, or other forms of physical
restraint—lies at the heart of the liberty that [the Due Process] Clause protects.” Zadvydas, 533
U.S. at 690. “It is well established that the Fifth Amendment entitles [noncitizens] to due
process of law in deportation proceedings.” Reno v. Flores, 507 U.S. 292, 306 (1993); see also
Zadvydas, 533 U.S. at 693. The Government’s power to admit or exclude aliens is no longer
plenary once an alien enters the country, because the Due Process Clause applies to “all
persons.” Landon v. Plasencia, 459 U.S. 21, 32 (1982) (“Once an alien gains admission to our
country and begins to develop the ties that go with permanent residence his constitutional status
changes accordingly.”). Given that § 1226(a) is controlling here, Petitioner “is entitled—as a
right—to an individualized bond hearing.” Cortez-Gonzalez v. Noem, 2025 WL 3485771, at *5
(D.N.M.). Petitioner’s continued detention without such review “constitutes an ongoing
violation of [his] right to due process.” Id.
C. The proper remedy is release.
The Court next turns to the appropriate remedy. Federal courts are authorized under
§ 2243 to “dispose of [a habeas petition] as law and justice require” and possess broad discretion
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to fashion appropriate relief. Clayton v. Jones, 700 F.3d 435, 443 (10th Cir. 2012); see also
Burton v. Johnson, 975 F.2d 690, 693 (10th Cir. 1992) (noting that a federal court “possesses
power to grant any form of relief necessary to satisfy the requirement of justice”) (emphasis in
original). Given the Government’s conduct here, release is warranted. See Singh v. Carnes,
2026 WL 446579, at *1 (D.N.M.) (ordering release where the Government “failed to articulate a
legitimate interest in Petitioner’s continued detention”); Palomeque-Carrion v. Bondi, 2026 WL
895567, at *2 (D.N.M.) (same).
IV. Conclusion
For the reasons above, the Court orders that:
1. The Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus, Doc. 1, is granted. The Government shall
release Petitioner within 24 hours of this Order. The Government shall not impose any
new conditions of release beyond those in place prior to Petitioner’s detention.
2. The Government is enjoined from redetaining Petitioner absent a predetention hearing
before a neutral immigration judge under § 1226(a), at which the Government must
establish, by clear and convincing evidence, that Petitioner poses a danger or flight risk.
3. The Government shall file a status report within 10 business days of this Order certifying
compliance.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
/s/Kenneth J. Gonzales___________________
CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
• Please note that this document has been
electronically filed. To verify its
authenticity, please refer to the Digital File
Stamp on the NEF (Notice of Electronic
Filing) accompanying this document.
Electronically filed documents can be found
on the Court’s PACER public access
system.
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