Singh v. Larose et al

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
ROBINJIT SINGH,
Petitioner,
v.
CHRISTOPHER J LAROSE, et al.,
Respondents.
Case No. 26-cv-00985-BAS-DEB
ORDER:
(1) 	REQUIRING THE
GOVERNMENT TO RESPOND
TO PETITION FOR WRIT OF
HABEAS CORPUS (ECF No. 1);
(2) 	SETTING BRIEFING
SCHEDULE ON MOTION FOR
INJUNCTIVE
RELIEF (ECF No. 3); AND
(3) 	PROVIDING NOTICE UNDER
RULE 65(a)(2)
Petitioner Robinjit Singh filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus pursuant to 28
U.S.C. § 2241. (ECF No. 1.) Petitioner alleges he is being detained by Immigration and
Customs Enforcement in violation of the Fifth Amendment. (Id.)
In addition, Petitioner filed an Ex Parte Application for Temporary Restraining
Order (“Motion for Injunctive Relief”). (ECF No. 3.) Petitioner asks the Court to order
immediate release. (Id.)
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Having reviewed the Petition, the Court finds that summary dismissal is unwarranted
at this time. See Kourteva v. INS, 151 F. Supp. 2d 1126, 1128 (N.D. Cal. 2001) (“Summary
dismissal is appropriate only where the allegations in the petition are vague or conclusory,
palpably incredible, or patently frivolous or false.”). 	Therefore, the Court will order the
Government to respond to the Petition and set a hearing.
Turning to the Motion for Injunctive Relief, the Court denies the ex parte request for
a temporary restraining order. 	See Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(b). 	“While temporary restraining
orders may be heard in true ex parte fashion (i.e., without notice to an opposing party), the
Court will do so only in extraordinary circumstances. The Court’s strong preference is for
the opposing party to be served and afforded a reasonable opportunity to file an
opposition.” 	Standing Order for Civil Cases § 9; see also Granny Goose Foods, Inc. v.
Bhd. of Teamsters & Auto Truck Drivers Loc. No. 70 of Alameda Cnty., 415 U.S. 423, 438–
39 	(1974) 	(discussing 	ex 	parte 	temporary 	restraining 	orders 	and 	their 	“stringent
restrictions”); accord Reno Air Racing Ass’n, Inc. v. McCord, 452 F.3d 1126, 1131 (9th
Cir. 2006) (same). Thus, the Court will instead consider the Motion for Injunctive Relief
under Rule 65(a) and provide the Government with an opportunity to respond.
Finally, the Court provides notice to the parties that it intends to consolidate the
Motion for Injunctive Relief with a determination on the merits under Rule 65(a)(2). 	See
Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(a)(2); see also Slidewaters LLC v. Wash. State Dep’t of Lab. & Indus.,
4 F.4th 747, 759 (9th Cir. 2021) (noting the court can invoke Rule 65(a)(2) by giving “clear
and unambiguous notice”). Accordingly, the Court ORDERS as follows:
1. 	The Government must file a response to the Petition and the Motion for
Injunctive Relief no later than February 26, 2026. 	The Government’s response must
address the allegations in the Petition and must include any documents relevant to the
determination of the issues raised in the Petition.
2. 	Petitioner may file a reply in support of his Petition and the Motion for
Injunctive Relief no later than March 5, 2026.
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3. 	The parties must appear in Courtroom 12B on March 13, 2026, at 11:30 a.m.
for a hearing on the Petition.
4. 	The Clerk of Court shall GRANT Petitioner’s Motion to Withdraw (ECF No.
4) the duplicative Ex Parte Motion for Temporary Restraining Order (ECF No. 2).
5. 	The Clerk of Court shall provide the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s
Office with a copy of the Petition (ECF No. 1), the Motion for Injunctive Relief (ECF No.
3), and this Order.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED: February 19, 2026
Hon. Cynthia Bashant, Chief Judge
United States District Court
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