Sandoval Calderas v. Noem et al Case electronically transferred to WDTX - San Antonio Division.

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
VICTORIA DIVISION
CESAR YOEL SANDOVAL CALDERAS,
Petitioner,
VS.
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CIVIL ACTION NO. 6:26-CV-00005
KRISTI NOEM, et al.,
Respondents.
OPINION AND ORDER OF TRANSFER
Petitioner filed this habeas case seeking relief pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241. (D.E.
1). In the Petition, Petitioner, who is represented by counsel Nera Shefer, asserts he is
being held at the Karnes County Immigration Processing Center in Karnes City, Texas.
The Karnes County Immigration Processing Center is located in Karnes County, Texas
which is within the Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division. 28 U.S.C. § 124
(d)(4).1 However, Petitioner’s counsel has filed this case in the Southern District of Texas,
Victoria Division. 28 U.S.C. § 124 (b)(5).
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 or detainee is incarcerated.
Hooker v. Sivley, 187 F.3d 680, 682 (5th Cir. 1999) (citation omitted); see also Pack v.
1A review of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement locator website confirms Petitioner
is located at the Karnes County Immigration Processing Center. See
https://locator.ice.gov/odls/#/details (last visited Jan. 30, 2026).
United States District Court
Southern District of Texas
ENTERED
January 30, 2026
Nathan Ochsner, Clerk
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Yusuff, 218 F.3d 448, 451 (5th Cir. 2000) (citations omitted). Accordingly, this case is
more appropriately transferred to the Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division.
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 Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division. All pending Motions are
DENIED as moot and the Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to CLOSE this case.
ORDERED on January 30, 2026.
_______________________________
Jason B. Libby
United States Magistrate Judge
Case 6:26-cv-00005 Document 6 Filed 01/30/26 in TXSD Page 2 of 2