Navarro Urdaneta v. BONDI et al

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
CORPUS CHRISTI DIVISION
JHON KEINER NAVARRO URDANETA,
Plaintiff,
VS.
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CIVIL ACTION NO. 2:26-CV-00091
PAMELA BONDI, et al.,
Defendants.
OPINION AND ORDER OF TRANSFER
Petitioner, through counsel, filed this habeas case seeking relief pursuant to 28
U.S.C. § 2241. In the Petition, Petitioner’s counsel asserts he is being held at the “Coastal
Bend Detention Center in Laredo, Texas.” (D.E. 1, Page 6). The Coastal Bend Detention
Center is located in Robstown, Texas, in Nueces County. However, a review of the U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement locator website indicates Petitioner is located at El
Valle Detention Center in Raymondville, Texas. See https://locator.ice.gov/odls/#/details
(last visited March 30, 2026). The El Valle Detention Center is located in Willacy County,
Texas which is within the Southern District of Texas, Brownsville Division. 28 U.S.C. §
124 (b)(4).
It is well established that a petition for writ of habeas corpus filed pursuant to 28
U.S.C. § 2241 must be filed in the district where the prisoner is incarcerated. Hooker v.
Sivley, 187 F.3d 680, 682 (5th Cir. 1999) (citation omitted); see also Pack v. Yusuff, 218
F.3d 448, 451 (5th Cir. 2000) (citations omitted). While Petitioner filed this case in the
United States District Court
Southern District of Texas
ENTERED
March 30, 2026
Nathan Ochsner, Clerk
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Southern District of Texas, it is more appropriately transferred to the Brownsville Division,
where Petitioner is currently being held.
Rather than dismissal, the Court finds this case should be transferred. Therefore, the
Clerk of Court is ORDERED to TRANSFER this case to the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Texas, Brownsville Division. All pending Motions are
DENIED as moot and the Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to CLOSE this case.
ORDERED on March 30, 2026.
_______________________________
Jason B. Libby
United States Magistrate Judge
Case 2:26-cv-00091 Document 7 Filed 03/30/26 in TXSD Page 2 of 2