Case Name in Immigration Case - Unavailable

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA
Grace Jacobson, James K. Langdon, DORSEY & WHITNEY, 50 South Sixth
Street, Suite 1500, Minneapolis, MN 55402, for Petitioner.
David W. Fuller, David R. Hackworthy, UNITED STATES ATTORNEY’S OFFICE,
300 	South 	Fourth 	Street, 	Suite 	600, 	Minneapolis, 	MN 	55415 	for
Respondents.
Petitioner Jaime G.C. was arrested and detained by United States Immigration and
Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) on January 27, 2026. 	Jaime G.C. petitions for a writ of
habeas corpus, arguing that he is being detained unlawfully. Because the Court concludes
JAIME G.C.,
Petitioner,
v.
PAMELA BONDI, United States Attorney
General;
KRISTI NOEM, Secretary, U.S. Department
of Homeland Security;
TODD M. LYONS, Acting Director,
Immigration and Customs Enforcement;
and
DAVID EASTERWOOD, Acting Director, St.
Paul Field Office, U.S. Immigration and
Customs Enforcement;
Respondents.
Civil No. 26-1401 (JRT/EMB)
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
GRANTING PETITION FOR WRIT OF
HABEAS CORPUS
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that Jaime G.C.’s detention is unlawful, the Court will grant his petition for writ of habeas
corpus and order that he be released from custody.
BACKGROUND
Jaime G.C. is a citizen of El Salvador and a resident of St. Paul, Minnesota. (Verified
Pet. Writ of Habeas Corpus (“Pet.”) ¶ 55, Feb. 12, 2026, Docket No. 1.) He entered the
United States in 1998. (Id. ¶ 59.) He was granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in
June 2001. (Id.) His TPS has been extended several times. (Id.) In 2023, Jaime G.C. sought
another extension of his TPS, and he was approved though March 9, 2025. (Id. ¶ 60.) 	On
March 8, 2025, he filed another application to extend his TPS and employment
authorization, and those applications remain pending. (Id. ¶ 61.) Jaime G.C. is not subject
to a final order for removal. (Id. ¶ 58.)
On January 27, 2026, ICE arrested Jaime G.C. without a warrant while he was
driving in St. Paul on his way to go grocery shopping. (Id. ¶¶ 63, 66–67.) He was taken
into custody and transported to a detention facility in Willmar, Minnesota. 	(Id.) 	On
February 12, 2026, Jaime G.C. filed a Verified Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus, alleging
that his continued detention is unlawful and requesting that the Court order his
immediate release, or alternatively, a bond hearing. (Id. ¶¶ 70–100.)
On February 13, 2026, the Court issued an order (1) enjoining Respondents from
transferring Jaime G.C. outside the District of Minnesota pending a ruling on his habeas
petition, and (2) directing Respondents to file an answer by February 16, 2026. (Docket
No. 3.) The Respondents answered the Petition. (Docket No. 5.)
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DISCUSSION
Respondents argue that Jaime G.C. is subject to mandatory detention under 8
U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2), noting that Petitioner’s TPS has expired. After thorough review of the
parties’ filings, the Court concludes that the legal issues presented by Jaime G.C.’s habeas
petition are subject to the same analysis the Court recently employed in Herrera Avila v.
Bondi, Civ. No. 25-3741, 2025 WL 2976539 (D. Minn. Oct. 21, 2025) and Romero Santuario
v. Bondi, Civ. No. 25-4296, 2025 WL 3469577 (D. Minn, Dec. 2, 2025). The factual record
before the Court shows that Jaime G.C. was arrested while already in the United States.
(See Pet. ¶ 63.) For the same reasons articulated in Herrera Avila and Romero Santuario,
the Court concludes that it possesses jurisdiction over this petition, and that Jaime G.C.’s
detention is not authorized by § 1225(b)(2). 	Even if Petitioner’s TPS has expired, that
expiration would not alter the Court’s analysis. See Caryelis B.B.B. v. Bondi, Civ. No. 26-
917, 2026 WL 296560, at *1 (D. Minn. Feb. 4, 2026) (holding that § 1225(b)(2) did not
authorize the detention of a petitioner whose TPS had expired).
The Court therefore turns to the proper remedy. Where, as here, (1) Respondents
erroneously assert that a detainee is being held pursuant to § 1225(b)(2), and (2)
Respondents have not produced a warrant, as is required to effectuate an arrest pursuant
to § 1226(a), the appropriate remedy is release from custody. 	See, e.g., Ahmed M. v.
Bondi, Civ. No. 25-4711, 2026 WL 25627, at *3 (D. Minn. Jan. 5, 2026); Lauro M. v. Bondi,
Civ. No. 26-134, 2026 WL 115022, at *3 (D. Minn. Jan. 15, 2026); cf. Munaf v. Geren, 553
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U.S. 674, 693 (2008) (“Habeas is at its core a remedy for unlawful executive detention. . . .
The typical remedy for such detention is, of course, release.”).
Accordingly, the Court will grant Jaime G.C.’s petition for writ of habeas corpus and
order that he be released from custody.
ORDER
Based on the foregoing, and all the files, records, and proceedings herein, IT IS
HEREBY ORDERED that:
1. 	Petitioner Jaime G.C.’s Verified Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (Docket No. [1])
is GRANTED, as follows:
a. 	Petitioner 	is 	not 	subject 	to 	mandatory 	detention 	under 	8 	U.S.C.
§ 1225(b)(2).
b. 	If Petitioner is being detained outside of Minnesota, Respondents shall
TRANSPORT Petitioner to Minnesota and RELEASE Petitioner from custody
immediately. Petitioner’s release in Minnesota must occur no later than 48
hours after the filing of this Order.
c. 	If Petitioner is being detained in Minnesota, Respondents shall RELEASE
Petitioner from custody as soon as practicable, and no later than 48 hours
from the filing of this Order.
d. 	Given the severe weather conditions in Minnesota, Respondents are
ORDERED to coordinate with Petitioner’s counsel to ensure that upon
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Petitioner’s release, they are not left outside in dangerous cold. 	It is
preferable to release Petitioner to counsel to ensure humane treatment.
e. 	Respondents must release Petitioner with all personal effects, such as
driver’s 	licenses, 	passports, 	or 	immigration 	documents, 	and 	without
conditions such as location tracking devices.
f. 	Respondents are ENJOINED from re-detaining Petitioner under this same
statutory theory, absent materially changed circumstances.
g. 	The parties shall provide the Court with a status update concerning the
status of Petitioner’s release by no later than 5:00 p.m. on February 20,
2026. 	Further, the parties shall advise the Court whether any additional
proceedings in this matter are required and submit any proposals for the
scope of further litigation.
DATED: February 17, 2026 	_
at Minneapolis, Minnesota. 	JOHN R. TUNHEIM
Time: 3:35 p.m. 	United States District Judge
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