Cardenas v. Scott

CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Washington
DecidedMay 9, 2025
Docket2:25-cv-00064
StatusUnknown

This text of Cardenas v. Scott (Cardenas v. Scott) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Washington primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Cardenas v. Scott, (W.D. Wash. 2025).

Opinion

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5 6 7 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 8 WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AT TACOMA 9 10 ANTONIO CRUZ CARDENAS, CASE NO. 2:25-cv-00064-TSZ-GJL 11 Petitioner, v. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION 12 B. SCOTT, et al., Noting Date: May 27, 2025 13 Respondents. 14

15 This federal habeas action has been referred to United States Magistrate Judge Grady J. 16 Leupold. In his Petition filed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241, Petitioner Antonio Cruz Cardenas 17 seeks immediate release from immigration detention or, in the alternative, a second bond 18 hearing. Dkt. 1. Petitioner alleges his detention is unreasonably prolonged and may not continue 19 without additional procedural protections. Id. Respondents United States Immigration and 20 Custom Enforcement (“ICE”), ICE Field Office Director, ICE Director, United States 21 Department of Homeland Security, and United States Attorney General moved to dismiss the 22 Petition, arguing that Petitioner has not met his burden of “providing good reason to believe that 23 24 1 there is no significant likelihood of his removal in the reasonably foreseeable future,” Dkt. 5 at 8, 2 nor is Petitioner entitled to an additional bond hearing as a matter of due process. Id. at 8–12.1 3 The undersigned agrees with Respondents and concludes that, at this time, Petitioner has 4 not shown his removal is unlikely to occur within a reasonable period, and he is not entitled to

5 additional procedural protections regarding his continued detention. It is therefore recommended 6 that Respondents’ Motion to Dismiss (Dkt. 5) be GRANTED, the Petition be DENIED, and this 7 action be DISMISSED without prejudice. 8 I. BACKGROUND 9 Petitioner is a native and citizen of Mexico, who entered the United States without lawful 10 status on an unknown date. Dkt. 6 at 1 (De Castro Declaration). In 2000, Petitioner was 11 convicted of first-degree murder following a jury trial in Los Angelos County, California and 12 sentenced to 25 years in California state prison. Dkt. 7-2 (Exhibit B). After serving his sentence, 13 Petitioner was transferred to DHS custody to begin immigration proceedings. See Dkt. 7-1 14 (Exhibit C).

15 A. Immigration Proceedings 16 Petitioner entered into DHS custody on July 27, 2023. Id. That same day, he was served 17 with a Notice of Intent to Issue a Final Administrative Removal Order (“FARO”) pursuant to 8 18 U.S.C. § 1228(b), alleging he was removable based on a conviction for an aggravated felony as 19 defined by 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(43)(A). Dkt. 7-4 (Exhibit D). The Notice also informed Petitioner 20 of his eligibility to request withholding of removal under 8 U.S.C. § 1231(b)(3) or the 21 Convention Against Torture. Id. 22

1 Although it does not impact the outcome recommended herein, the undersigned notes that Respondent B. Scott— 23 the superintendent of Northwest ICE Processing Center (“NWIPC”), where Petitioner is currently detained—has not joined in the Motion to Dismiss or otherwise participated in this case. See docket. Nevertheless, the Government’s 24 interests are sufficiently represented without additional input from the NWIPC superintendent. 1 On August 11, 2023, DHS issued the FARO. Dkt. 7-5 (Exhibit E). Based on the 2 administrative record, DHS found Petitioner was not a lawful permanent resident, citizen, or 3 national of the United States and found he was removable under 8 U.S.C. § 1227(a)(2)(A)(iii). 4 Id. Based on these findings, DHS ordered Petitioner’s removal to Mexico or to an alternative

5 country designated under the INA. Id.; see also Dkt. 7-6 (Exhibit F). 6 Petitioner did not contest the basis for his removal and, instead, initiated withholding- 7 only proceedings by claiming fear of persecution if he were removed to Mexico. Dkt. 7-7 8 (Exhibit G); see also 8 C.F.R. § 238.1(f)(3). After conducting a reasonable fear interview, an 9 asylum officer determined Petitioner did not demonstrate a reasonable fear of persecution. Id. An 10 Immigration Judge (“IJ”) reviewed and affirmed that determination in September 2023. Dkt. 7-8 11 (Exhibit H); see also Dkt. 6 at 2 (De Castro Declaration). 12 Petitioner filed a Petition for Review (“PFR”) of this determination and a motion to stay 13 removal with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on October 4, 2023. Cruz Cardenas v. Bondi, 14 No. 23-2580, Dkts. 1, 2 (9th Cir., filed Oct. 4, 2023) (unpublished). In January 2025, the Ninth

15 Circuit denied the PFR but granted a stay of removal until it issued the mandate in Petitioner’s 16 case. Id. at Dkts. 50, 52. 17 B. Detention Reviews and Aleman Gonzalez Bond Hearing 18 Throughout his immigration proceedings, Petitioner’s detention has been subject to 19 review by ICE, an IJ, and the Board of Immigration Appeals. See Dkt. 6 at 2 (De Castro 20 Declaration). 21 First, in November 2023, ICE issued a Decision to Continue Detention after evaluating 22 Petitioner’s file, submitted materials, and the relevant factors under 8 C.F.R. §§ 241.4(e)–(g). 23 Dkt. 7-9 (Exhibit I).

24 1 Next, an IJ reviewed Petitioner’s detention in January 2024 at a bond hearing held 2 pursuant to Aleman Gonzalez v. Barr, 955 F.3d 762 (9th Cir. 2020), rev’d, 596 U.S. 543 (2022). 3 Dkt. 6 at 2 (De Castro Declaration). At that hearing, the Government bore the burden of proving 4 by clear and convincing evidence that Petitioner posed a danger or flight risk. Id.; Dkt. 7-10

5 (Exhibit J). Petitioner was represented by counsel and permitted to submit evidence in support of 6 his position. Id.; Dkt. 7-11 (Exhibit K). The IJ considered both the nature of Petitioner’s 7 underlying offense and his post-conviction conduct. Id. The IJ noted Petitioner’s youth and other 8 mitigating features of his underlying offense. Id. Nevertheless, the IJ emphasized that Petitioner 9 remained active in prison gang activities until at least 2018. Id. Ultimately, the IJ found that 10 Petitioner posed a danger to the community and a significant flight risk while further concluding 11 that no bond or release conditions could adequately address these concerns. Id.; see also Dkt. 7- 12 10 (Exhibit J). The Board of Immigration Appeals reviewed and affirmed the IJ’s decision in 13 April 2024. Dkt. 7-12 (Exhibit L). 14 Finally, in May 2024, ICE issued a second Decision to Continue Detention following a

15 personal interview, a review of Petitioner’s updated file and any evidence submitted by him. Dkt. 16 7-13 (Exhibit M). ICE also noted that Petitioner’s removal was likely to occur in the reasonably 17 foreseeable future. Id. 18 C. Federal Habeas Petition 19 Petitioner initiated this action on January 1, 2025, by filing a Petition challenging the 20 lawfulness of his continued detention. Dkt. 1. Respondents moved to dismiss the Petition, 21 arguing that Petitioner’s detention pending removal remains lawful. Dkt. 5. After receiving an 22 extension of time, Petitioner responded in opposition to the Motion to Dismiss, and Respondents 23 replied in support. Dkts. 10, 11. As such, Respondents’ Motion to Dismiss is now fully briefed

24 and ready for consideration. 1 II.

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