Xiaowen Pi, who is being held at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center, filed a habeas corpus petition under 28 U.S.C. section 2241 along with his first TRO application earlier this year. The respondents include Fereti Semaia, the warden of the facility, among others.
Judge Fairbank had previously granted Pi's first TRO application on February 17, 2026, and subsequently issued a preliminary injunction on February 25, 2026, after directing respondents to show cause why such relief should not be granted. The judge noted that the current matter involving Pi's second TRO application filed on April 7 'finds this matter suitable for resolution without oral argument.'
The case follows the typical progression of immigration detention challenges, where detainees first seek emergency relief through TROs before pursuing broader preliminary injunctions. Judge Fairbank's earlier grants of both a TRO and preliminary injunction suggest the petitioner has demonstrated likelihood of success on the merits of his detention challenge.
The tight briefing schedule reflects the urgency typically associated with TRO applications in detention cases. Pi's counsel will have until Sunday evening to file a reply brief, with the court positioned to rule quickly on the emergency application without requiring oral argument.