Padron-Valdes v. Director of Department of Homeland Security, et al

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
HOUSTON DIVISION
LAZARA ELAINE PADRON-VALDES, 	§
§
Petitioner, 	§
§
VS. 	§ 	CIVIL ACTION NO. 4:26-CV-02039
§
DIRECTOR OF DEPARTMENT OF 	§
HOMELAND SECURITY, etal., 	§
§
Respondents. 	§
ORDER
The petitioner, Lazara Elaine Padron-Valdes, is a detainee in the custody of United
States Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement ("ICE")
officials. Through counsel, Petitioner filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus under 28
U.S.C. § 2241, challenging her continued detention. 	Doc. No. 1. 	Respondents have filed
a motion for summary judgment (Doc. No. 5) , to which Petitioner has filed a response in
opposition (Doc. No. 6).
The petitioner is detained under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2)(A) and has been detained for
more than 90 days ; therefore, she is entitled to a bond hearing based on the Fifth Circuit's
recent opinion in Sosnava Rodriguez v. Ortega, No.26-50183 , 2026 WL 1906557 (5th Cir.
July 2, 2026). Accordingly, the Court ORDERS as follows:
1. 	The petition for a writ of habeas corpus is GRANTED in part.
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United States District Court
Southern District of Texas
ENTERED
July 08, 2026
Nathan Ochsner, Clerk
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2. 	Respondents shall release the petitioner from custody unless the government
provides a bond hearing by August 10, 2026. If a bond hearing is held, the
government "must articulate an individualized justification for further detention
without bond." Sosnava Rodriguez, 2026 WL 1906557, at * 16. The government
shall provide at least 48 hours' notice to the petitioner and counsel before the
bond hearing, if such is held, or before release.
3. 	The parties must confer and file a joint update with the Court by August 17,
2026, informing the Court of the result of any hearing and the petitioner's
custody status.
4. 	The parties must file an advisory by September 10, 2026, stating whether this
case may be closed or what other issues remain for adjudication.
5. 	Respondents ' motion for summary judgment (Doc. No. 5) is DENIED.
6. All other pending motions, if any, are DENIED as MOOT.
SO ORDERED.
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SIGNED this 	~ 	day of July 2026.
ANDREW S. HANEN
UNITED STATES DIS1RICT JUDGE
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