Case Name in Immigration Case - Unavailable

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
SOUTHERN DIVISION
QUOC THANH THAI NGUYEN 	)
)
Petitioner, 	)
)
v. 	) 	Case No. 6:26-cv-3134-MDH
)
KRISTI NOEM, et. al., 	)
)
Respondents. 	)
ORDER GRANTING PETITION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
Petitioner has been detained by the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) and parole
has been terminated without prior written notice. Pending is his Verified Petition for Writ of Habeas
Corpus in which he argues federal statutes and the Due Process Clause require that he be released
or granted a hearing. The Court agrees with Petitioner’s Constitutional and statutory arguments,
and on that basis, it concludes the Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus should be GRANTED.
BACKGROUND
Petitioner is a native and citizen of Vietnam. He has been present in the United States since
November 25, 2023. Petitioner has no criminal convictions. Petitioner is currently in removal
proceedings with his next court hearing scheduled for March 11, 2026. He has a valid employment
authorization document based on his timely filed asylum application; it is valid until July 31, 2029.
On February 23, 2026, he was taken back into custody by ICE/ERO officials after he was arrested
for an alleged DUI. It is unclear if charges were ever filed resulting from this arrest, because
Petitioner was immediately transferred to ICE custody. He is currently being held in Greene
County Jail in Springfield, Missouri.
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Petitioner brought this proceeding, seeking a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§ 2241, against (1) the acting field office director of ICE Kansas City, (2) the Secretary of DHS,
and (3), the Greene County Sheriff all in their official capacities.1 He asserts his detention violates
the Immigration Nationality Act (INA), and the Due Process Clause. Respondents argue that
Petitioner is not entitled to be considered for release, and the Court resolves the parties’ arguments
below.
DISCUSSION
I. 	Jurisdiction
Respondents argue that three statutory provisions—8 U.S.C. §§ 1252(e)(3), 1252(g) and
(b)(9) deprive this Court of jurisdiction to consider Petitioner’s claims. The Court disagrees.
Section 1252(e)(3), entitled “Challenges on validity of the system,” limits the scope of
judicial review of “orders under Section 1225(b)(1)” and limits venue to the U.S. District Court
for the District of Columbia. Petitioner is “not challenging the lawfulness of any particular statute,
regulation, or written policy or procedure.” Thus, § 1252(e)(3) does not strip this Court of
jurisdiction. See Munoz Materano v. Arteta, 2025 WL 2630826 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 12, 2025), at *10.
Further, this statute only bars jurisdiction based on those held under 8 U.S.C. § 1225. However,
the Court adopts its ruling in similar cases2 and finds that Petitioner is being held under 8 U.S.C.
§ 1226. Therefore, 8 U.S.C. § 1252(e)(3) does not deprive the Court of Jurisdiction.
1 Petitioner’s Petition lists Jim Arnott as a party by virtue of his administration of the Greene County Jail in Springfield,
Mo. The Court construes the proper party holding Petitioner in custody as the Department of Homeland Security
through Immigration and Customs Enforcement. As DHS and ICE are utilizing the Greene County Jail to hold
Petitioner and other detainees, the Court expects its ruling to apply to the Government and those aiding the
Government regarding this specific case.
2 Andres v. Noem, et al., No. 25-03321-CV-S-MDH, Eshdavlatov v. Olson, et al. No. 25-00844-CV-S-MDH,
Hernandez-Cuevas v. Olson, et al., No. 25-00830-CV-W-BP, Ifante v. Noem, et al., No. 25-03322-CV-S-MDH,
Morales-Rodriguez v. Arnott, et al., No. 25-00836-CV-S-MDH, Pozos-Ramirez v. Noem, et al., No. 25-03316-CV- S-
MDH. As of the date of this Order the Court is not aware of any appellate decisions from this Circuit. The Court is
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Sections 1252(g) and (b)(9) apply narrowly to systemic challenges to regulations
implementing expedited removal, review of an order of removal, the decision to seek removal, or
the process by which removability will be determined, not to constitutional or statutory claims
which precede and are collateral to that process, including, as relevant here, unlawful arrest or
detention. See Mata Velasquez v. Kurzdorfer, No. 25-CV-493-LJV, 2025 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 135986,
2025 WL 1953796, at *7 (W.D.N.Y. July 16, 2025); see also Hernandez-Cuevas v. Olson, No.
4:25-cv-00830-BP, at 3 (W.D. Mo. Nov. 05, 2025) (citing 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(2)); Cifuentes Rivera
v. Arnott, et al, 25-cv-00570-RK1, Doc.19 at 7 (W.D. Mo. Oct. 07, 2025) (“the narrow scope of §
1252(g) does not cover “claims [that] are collateral to the Government’s decision to execute the
final order of removal,” for instance, claims seeking relief based upon the Government’s alleged
failure to comply with its own regulations regarding the required administrative processes after an
alien is detained.”). Petitioner is challenging his unlawful detention, not any removal decisions or
actions, so the above provisions do not deprive the Court of jurisdiction.
For those reasons, this Court concludes it has jurisdiction over Petitioner’s habeas petition.
II. 	The Due Process Clause
"A procedural due process claim has two elements: (1) a deprivation of a
constitutionally protected liberty or property interest, and (2) a denial of adequate procedural
protections." Sanchez v. LaRose, 2025 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 190593, *6-7 (citing Miranda v. City of
Casa Grande, 15 F4th 1219, 1225 (9th Cir. 2021) (internal quotations and citation omitted)).
aware that the Fifth Circuit issued a 2-1 decision from a 3-judge panel agreeing with the Respondents’ position and
rejecting Petitioner’s arguments and hundreds of district courts across the country. See Buenrostro-Mendez v. Bondi,
Case No. 25-20496 (5th Circuit, 02/06/2026). The Fifth Circuit’s decision does not bind this Court.
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"Freedom from imprisonment—from government custody, detention, or other forms of
physical restraint—lies at the heart of the liberty that the [Due Process] Clause protects." Sanchez
v. LaRose at *7 (citing Zadvydas v. Davis, 533 U.S. at 690). Although immigration detention is
administrative, it is still subject to due process clause review. Id. (citing Hernandez v. Sessions,
872 F3d at 981 ("the government's discretion to incarcerate noncitizens is always constrained by
the requirements of due process.")). When the government grants an alien parole into the country,
it creates a liberty interest intimately tied to freedom from imprisonment. Id. (citing Alegria Palma
v. LaRose, 25-cv-1942, ECF No.14 (S.D. Cal. Aug. 11, 2025) (finding that "continued freedom
after release on own recognizance" was a core liberty interest)). Here, Petitioner was released by
immigration authorities and awaiting further immigration proceedings at home. Petitioner has a
liberty interest under that prior release. His continued detention deprives him of his liberty interest.
Respondents also denied petitioner due process in the revocation of his parole. "The
essence of due process is the requirement that 'a person in jeopardy of a serious loss [be given]
notice of the case against him and the opportunity to meet it." Sanchez at *8 (citing Mathews v.
Eldridge, 424 U.S. 319, 348, 96 S. Ct. 893, 47 L. Ed. 2d 18 (1976) (quoting Joint Anti-Fascist
Comm. v. McGrath, 341 U.S. 123, 171-72, 71 S. Ct. 624, 95 L. Ed. 817 (Frankfurter, J.,
concurring)). In the immigration context, "the Constitution requires the government to afford
notice of any action against an alien [and] requires an opportunity for the alien to be heard. [] The
opportunity to be heard must be meaningful, that is, an opportunity granted at a meaningful time
and in a meaningful manner." Id. (citing Ying Fong v. Ashcroft, 317 F.Supp.2d 398, 403 (S.D.N.Y.
2004) (internal quotations and citations omitted)).
An alien's opportunity to be heard regarding the revocation of his parole is only meaningful
if the government comports with its own internal standards regarding parole revocation. DHS has
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the authority to revoke an alien's parole "at any time" on a discretionary, but not unlimited, basis.
Id. at *8. (citing 8 U.S.C. § 1226(b); Mohammed H. v. Trump, No. 25-1576 (JWB/DTS), 2025 U.S.
Dist. LEXIS 117197, 2025 WL 1692739, at *5 (D. Minn. June 17, 2025) ("The Government has
wide—but not unlimited—discretion in the immigration realm.")). The Board of Immigration
Appeals ("BIA") has held that DHS may change the conditions of an alien's parole only when there
is a sufficient change of circumstances to justify that change. Id. (citing Matter of Sugay, 17 I. &
N. Dec. 637, 640 (BIA 1981) (as cited in Alegria Palma, No. 25-cv-1942-BJC-MMP, ECF No.14
at 3)). "In practice, the DHS re-arrests individuals only after a 'material' change in circumstances."
Id. at *9. (citing Ortega v. Bonnar, 415 F.Supp.3d 963, 968 (N.D. Cal. 2019)). To satisfy due
process, those changed circumstances must represent individualized legal justification for
detention. Id. at *9 (citing Mohammed H., 2025 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 117197, 2025 WL 1692739 at
*5 (granting a writ of habeas corpus on due process grounds due to a lack of individualized legal
justification for changing the petitioner's status)).
Here, Respondents revoked Petitioner's parole without a showing of change in
circumstances related to his case. Respondents do not dispute the facts as Petitioner presents them.
They only argue this Court lacks jurisdiction. In their briefing, Respondents do not state a
"sufficient change in circumstances" to justify revoking Petitioner's parole, or any individualized
justification at all. Id. at *9 (citing Matter of Sugay, 17 I. & N. Dec. at 640). Petitioner's parole
into the U.S. was based on his asylum claim, the underlying facts of which have not changed, and
he was in possession of a still-valid work authorization (Doc. 1-2) and awaiting further
immigration proceedings. There was no evidence from his conduct that he was a flight risk. Thus,
Respondents did not satisfy the requirement of due process in revoking Petitioner's parole.
III. Temporary Restraining Order
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In the Petition, Petitioner requests this Court grant any further relief this Court deems just
and proper. Under similar circumstances, this Court has granted temporary injunctive relief to
habeas petitioners to enjoin Respondents from relocating petitioners outside the jurisdiction of this
Court prior to compliance with this Order. The Courts finds that such relief is just and proper in
this case.
In analyzing a request for a TRO, the Court weighs: 1) probability movant will succeed on
the merits; 2) threat of irreparable harm to the movant absent injunction; 3) balance between
threatened harm to the movant and harm the injunction would inflict on other interested parties;
and 4) the public interest. Dataphase Sys., Inc. v. C L Syst., Inc., 640 F.2d 109, 114 (8th Cir.1981)
(en banc). “No single factor is dispositive;” rather, the court must consider all factors to determine
whether on balance they weigh towards granting the remedy. Calvin Klein Cosmetics Corp. v.
Lenox Labs., Inc., 815 F.2d 500, 503 (8th Cir. 1987).
The Court finds that a TRO in this case is appropriate. As discussed above, the Court has
already found that movant will succeed on his Petition for Habeas Corpus by virtue of his Due
Process argument. Further, the threat of irreparable harm to the movant absent injunction is high
as any move from this district prior to a bond hearing would render this Order and Petitioner right
to a hearing as meaningless. As to the balance between the threatened harm to the movant and the
harm the injunction would inflict on other interested parties, the balance tips in favor of Petitioner.
Respondents and other interested parties would not suffer by allowing Petitioner to have a hearing
or await further immigration proceedings at home. Lastly, there is a public interest in allowing
those who are detained in violation of the Due Process Clause to be released and given a hearing
as expressed and determined by Congress. For these reasons, the Court finds a TRO is appropriate.
IV. Attorneys’ Fees
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Petitioner requests an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. Pursuant to the EAJA,
a court shall award to a prevailing party fees and other expenses incurred by that party in any civil
action, brought by or against the United States, unless the court finds that the position of the United
States was substantially justified or that special circumstances make an award unjust. 28 U.S.C §
2412(d)(1)(A). To be eligible for fees under the EAJA, a petitioner must submit an application
within thirty days of final judgment, and the petitioner's net worth must be less than two million
dollars at the time the civil action was filed. See id. §§ (d)(1)(B), (d)(2)(B)(i). The EAJA was
enacted with the purpose of removing the financial disincentive for individuals challenging or
defending against government action and encouraging challenges to improper government action
as a means of helping formulate better public policy. See, e.g., Comm'r, I.N.S. v. Jean, 496 U.S.
154, 163 (1990) (“[T]he specific purpose of the EAJA is to eliminate for the average person the
financial disincentive to challenge unreasonable governmental actions.” (citation omitted));
Boudin v. Thomas, 732 F.2d 1107, 1114 (2d Cir. 1984) (“The EAJA was passed partly to encourage
challenges to improper actions by government agencies. The drafters perceived legal actions as
helping to formulate public policy.” (citations omitted)).
As explained throughout, the Court finds the position of the United States is not
substantially justified. Respondents do not dispute the facts of Petitioner’s status, arrest, or
detainment. Yet, Respondents revoked Petitioner’s parole without prior written notice. Thus,
Petitioner may pursue an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs pursuant to the Equal
Access to Justice Act.
CONCLUSION
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The Court concludes Petitioner’s right to procedural due process has been violated, and he
is entitled to immediate release. Accordingly, the Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus is
GRANTED as follows.
1. Petitioner is not subject to mandatory detention under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2), and is instead
subject to detention, if at all, pursuant to the discretionary provisions of 8 U.S.C. §
1226(a)(1).
2. Respondents are ORDERED to immediately release Petitioner from custody.
3. Respondents shall make accommodations available for Petitioner until such time as
arrangements can be made for Petitioner to be returned to the location of arrest or other
location agreed by the parties.
4. Petitioner shall promptly report to the Court any failure to comply with this Order by
Respondent.
5. Petitioner may submit an application for fees under the EAJA within thirty days of the
entry of final judgment.
6. It is FURTHER ORDERED that Respondents are enjoined from relocating Petitioner
outside the jurisdiction of this Court prior to compliance with this Order.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED: March 17, 2026
/s/ Douglas Harpool
DOUGLAS HARPOOL
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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