Judge Grants Habeas Relief, Bars Mandatory Detention for Immigrant Petitioner

LitNews.ai Staff · April 17, 2026 · paed

A federal judge in Philadelphia has granted a habeas petition for Juan Carlos Castro Sanchez, ruling that he is not subject to mandatory detention under 8 U.S.C. § 1225 and ordering his immediate release from custody.

The court held that Castro Sanchez is instead subject to detention, if at all, under the discretionary provisions of 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a).

Judge Mary Kay Costello ordered the government to release Castro Sanchez immediately and certify compliance with the order on the docket no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 20, 2026.

The government is temporarily enjoined from re-detaining Castro Sanchez for seven days following his release.

If the government chooses to pursue re-detention after the seven-day period, it must first provide him with a bond hearing under 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a).

At that hearing, a neutral immigration judge shall determine whether detention is warranted pending the resolution of his removal proceedings.

The petition was filed against J.L. Jamison, Warden of the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia; John E. Rife, Acting Field Officer Director of ICE’s Philadelphia Field Office; Markwayne Mullin, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security; Todd Blanche, Acting Attorney General; and the Department of Homeland Security and the Executive Office of Immigration Review.

The order was issued on April 17, 2026, in Civil No. 26-2322.

Court

paed

Case Name

Castro Sanchez v. JAMISON et al

Docket

2:26-cv-02322

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