Case Name in Immigration Case - Unavailable

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA
Sekou K.,
Petitioner,
v.
ANDREW LARSON, Executive Director,
Northwest Regional Corrections Center;
DAVID EASTERWOOD, Director of St. Paul
Field Office, U.S. Immigration and
Customs Enforcement;
KRISTI NOEM, Secretary, U.S. Department
of Homeland Security; and
PAMELA BONDI, Attorney General of the
United States;
Respondents.
Civil No. 26-706 (JRT/DLM)
ORDER
Petitioner is a citizen of Liberia, who alleges that he entered the U.S. without
inspection and has been residing peacefully without a criminal record within the U.S. since
March 2024. 	Petitioner was served with a Notice to Appear initiating removal
proceedings. Since then, he filed an asylum application on November 15, 2024, based on
his fear of return to his home country and has been reporting for check-ins with United
States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
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ICE arrested the Petitioner on December 3, 2025, while he was reporting for his
ICE check-in. Petitioner filed a Verified Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus on January
27, 2026 (Docket No. 1.) and claims to be detained unlawfully.
Based on the foregoing, and all the files, records, and proceedings herein, IT IS
HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
1. 	Petitioner’s motion for a temporary restraining order (Docket No. [3]) is
GRANTED in part. Respondents are ENJOINED from removing, transferring,
or otherwise facilitating the removal of Petitioner from the District of
Minnesota until the Court issues an order on the pending Petition for Writ
of Habeas Corpus (Docket No. [1]).
a. 	Respondents may request permission from the Court to move
Petitioner if unforeseen or emergency circumstances arise which
require Petitioner to be removed from the District. Any such request
must include an explanation for the request as well as a proposed
destination. 	The Court will then determine whether to grant the
request and permit transfer of Petitioner.
b. 	If 	Petitioner 	has 	already 	been 	removed 	from 	Minnesota,
Respondents are ORDERED to immediately return Petitioner to
Minnesota.
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2. 	Respondents are directed to file an answer to the petition for a writ of
habeas corpus of petitioner by no later than 5:00 p.m. January 30, 2026,
certifying the true cause and proper duration of Petitioner’s confinement
and showing cause why the writ should not be granted in this case.
3. 	Respondents’ answer must include:
a. 	Such affidavits and exhibits as are needed to establish the lawfulness
and correct duration of Petitioner’s detention in light of the issues
raised in the habeas petition;
b. 	A reasoned memorandum of law and fact explaining Respondents’
legal position on Petitioner’s claims;
c. 	Respondents’ recommendation on whether an evidentiary hearing
should be conducted;
d. 	Respondents’ view as to whether—and if so, why—this matter is
materially distinguishable, either factually or legally, from Avila v.
Bondi, No. 25-CV-3741 (JRT/SGE), 2025 WL 2976539 (D. Minn.
Oct. 21, 2025); and
e. 	Whether the absence of a warrant preceding Petitioner’s arrest
necessitates Petitioner’s immediate release. See e.g., Ahmed M. v.
Bondi, No. 25-4711, 2026 WL 25627, at *3 (D. Minn. Jan. 5, 2026).
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4. 	If Petitioner intends to file a reply to Respondents’ answer, he must do so
by no later than 5:00 p.m. on January 31, 2026. 	Thereafter, no further
submissions from either party will be permitted, except as authorized by
Court order.
5. 	Petitioner’s motion for an order to show cause (Docket No. [2]) is GRANTED
insofar as the briefing schedule set forth above is consistent with the
request made in the motion.
Dated: January 28, 2026
at Minneapolis, Minnesota. JOHN R. TUNHEIM
United States District Judge
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