Carlos Humberto Alas Ayala v. Warden, Pike County Correctional Facility, et al.

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA CARLOS HUMBERTO ALAS AYALA _ : Petitioner, 3:26-cv-1170 : (JUDGE MARIANI) V. WARDEN, PIKE COUNTY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, et al., Respondents. MEMORANDUM OPINION I. BACKGROUND On May 4, 2026, Petitioner Carlos Humberto Alas Ayala (“Petitioner”), a citizen of El Salvador residing in the United States since 2008, filed a counseled petition for writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241. (Doc. 1). Petitioner is detained at the Pike County Correctional Facility within the Middle District of Pennsylvania and names as Respondents Warden, Pike County Correctional Facility, ICE Deputy Field Office Director, Philadelphia, Enforcement and Removal Operations, Todd Lyons, Acting Director of ICE, Markwayne Mullin, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, and Todd Blanche, Acting Attorney General. (/d., J 17-21). Petitioner entered the United States without inspection in 2008. (/d., 36). He has resided in the United States for the past eighteen years and has deep ties to Pennsylvania and two United States citizen children with whom he resides. (/d., ] 36). “Prior to his arrest,

Petitioner owned and operated a business in Pennsylvania. He has no criminal history, no arrests, no convictions, and no pending criminal charges.” (/d., J 38). On April 24, 2026, Petitioner was driving his friend’s vehicle when three vehicles surrounded him. (/d., | 39). “The individuals who surrounded his vehicle did not identify themselves as law enforcement,” and “did not display badges, provide names, or state their

agency affiliation.” (/d.). These unknown individuals requested Petitioner's license and, after reviewing it, told Petitioner he was “clean’—meaning he had no outstanding warrants. ] 40). However, these unknown individuals refused to return Petitioner’s license and began questioning him about his immigration status. (/d., ] 41). When Petitioner exercised his constitutional rights and declined to answer, these unknown individuals “attempted to force open his vehicle door and threatened to break the window.”' (/d., |] 42-43). Believing he had no choice, Petitioner exited the vehicle and was placed under arrest. (/d., 1 43). When asked why he was being arrested, one of the officers told Petitioner he was being arrested due to “suspicion of drugs,” but no drugs charges have been brought, and Petitioner alleges this was merely a pretext. (/d., 44). The arresting officers had no warrant for Petitioner's arrest. (/d., J 45). The same day Petitioner was arrested he was served with a Notice to Appear, charging him as inadmissible pursuant to 8 U.S.C. §§ 1182(a)(6)(A)(i), 1182(a)(7)(A)(i)

1 It appears from the record provided by Respondents that the arresting officers are employed by ICE in New Jersey as part of the Enforcement and Removal Operations — Fugitive Operations. (Doc. 3-2 at 2).

because he entered the United States without being admitted or paroled and lacked a valid unexpired immigrant visa. (/d., ] 46). A review of the automated case information contained on the Executive Office of Immigration Review's website reveals that Petitioner has a Master Hearing before an Immigration Judge (“IJ”) on June 8, 2026. As such, Petitioner does not have a final order of removal. Petitioner claims he is being unlawfully detained by Respondents without a bond hearing under the mandatory detention provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (“INA”) 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2)(A), instead of the discretionary detention provision of the INA, 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a). This distinction matters because noncitizens detained pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2)(A) are not entitled to a bond hearing, whereas noncitizens detained pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a) are entitled to a bond hearing before an lJ. Patel v. O'Neil, 2025 WL 3516865, at *2 (M.D. Pa. Dec. 8, 2025) (citations omitted). As directed by the Court, the Respondents filed a response to the petition on May 8, 2026. (Doc. 3). The Respondents do not dispute the factual allegations contained in the petition. Rather, they set forth legal arguments as to why Petitioner's detention is lawful under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b). (/d. at 2) (“Petitioner is properly detained under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b) and is not eligible for release under 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a); therefore, his Petition should be denied.”). But, as discussed more fully below, Respondents’ interpretation of the INA—the same one they advance here—has already been rejected by this Court and the overwhelming majority of federal judges to address this issue. See Patel, 2025 WL

3516865, at *4 n.7 (M.D. Pa. Dec. 8, 2025 (collecting cases). The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit recently rejected the same interpretation advanced by the Respondents. See Cunha v. Freden,__F.4th__, 2026 WL 1146044, at *2 (2d Cir. Apr. 28, 2026) (“That text makes clear that Section 1226(a) governs detention of noncitizens like Petitioner. Section 1225(b)(2)(A) does not apply to such noncitizens, who are present in the United States after entering the country without inspection and admission, and who were not apprehended while entering the country or shortly thereafter.”). The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh and Sixth Circuit have also rejected the Respondents’ interpretation of the statutory provision at issue here. See Hernandez Alvarez v. Warden Fed. Det. Ctr. Miami, __ F.4th __, 2026 WL 1243395, at *1 (11 Cir. May 6, 2026) (“We are unpersuaded by the Government's re-interpretation of § 1225(b)(2)(A).”); see also Lopez- Campos v. Raycraft,__F.4th__, 2026 WL 1283891, at *1 (6th Cir. May 11, 2026) (similar). Il. | STANDARD OF REVIEW Absent suspension, the Constitution guarantees the availability of the writ of habeas

corpus “to every individual detained within the United States.” Hamdi v. Rumsfeld, 542 U.S. 507, 525 (2004 (Citing U.S. Const., Art!, § 9, cl. 2). Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241, a federal district court may grant a habeas petition where a petitioner's immigration detention is “in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the United States.” 28 U.S.C. § 2241(c)(3). Historically, “the writ of habeas corpus has served as a means of reviewing the legality of Executive detention, and it is in that context that its protections have been strongest.” □□□□□□

v. St. Cyr, 533 U.S. 289, 301 (2001). Claims brought by immigration detainees seeking relief from their confinement “fall within the core of the writ of habeas corpus.” Trump v. J.G.G., 604 U.S. 670, 672 (2025). It is well established that a federal habeas corpus petitioner generally has the burden of proving facts entitling him to a discharge from custody. Goins v. Brierley, 464 F.2d 947, 949 (3d Cir. 1972) (citations omitted). lll. ANALYSIS Although not raised by either party, the Court has jurisdiction to consider the petition.? Turning to the merits of the petition, the Court will first consider the two statutory provisions at issue here. 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b) is a statute entitled “Inspection by immigration Officers; expedited removal of inadmissible arriving aliens; referral for hearing.” It provides, in relevant part: (b) Inspection of applicants for admissions (2) Inspection of other aliens (A) In General Subject to subparagraph (B) and (C), in the case of an alien who is an applicant for admission, if the examining immigration officer determines that an alien seeking admission is not clearly and beyond a doubt entitled to be admitted, the alien shall be detained for a proceeding under section 1229a [removal proceedings] of this title. 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2)(A). 8 U.S.C. § 1226, in contrast, is entitled “Apprehension and detention of aliens.” It provides, in relevant part: (a) Arrest, detention, and release 2 The Court incorporates by reference its prior jurisdictional analyses set forth in similar habeas petitions filed by civil immigration detainees. See Patel, 2025 WL 3516865, at *3-4: see also Diallo v. Warden, 2026 WL 1081502, at *2-3 (M.D. Pa. Apr. 21, 2026). Furthermore, Petitioner is not required to exhaust his administrative remedies. /d.

On a warrant issued by the Attorney General, an alien may be arrested and detained pending a decision on whether the alien is to be removed from the United States. Except as provided in subsection (c) and pending such decision, the Attorney General— (1) may continue to detain the arrested alien; and (2) may release the alien on— (A) bond of at least $1,500 with security approved by, and containing ~ conditions prescribed by, the Attorney General; or (B) conditional parole; but (3) may not provide the alien with work authorization (including an ‘employment authorized’ endorsement or other appropriate work permit), unless the alien is lawfully admitted for permanent residence or otherwise would (without regard to removal proceedings) be provided such authorization. 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a). Respondents are detaining Petitioner pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2)(A). It is undisputed that Petitioner has never been charged with, or convicted of, a criminal offense during his eighteen years in the United States. It is further undisputed that Petitioner does not have a final order of removal. As the Court previously found, “the overwhelming majority of federal district courts that have addressed this issue have interpreted the INA to find that persons similarly situated to Petitioner—noncitizens who previously entered the United States and are currently residing in the United States—are not subject to the mandatory detention provision of 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2)(A) but instead are subject to the discretionary detention pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a) and accordingly are entitled to a bond hearing.” Patel, 2025 WL 3519895, at *4 (collecting cases). “These courts have further found that the statutory provisions of the INA that Respondents’ claim divest this

Court of jurisdiction do not apply to persons similarly situated to Petitioner and that there is

no need to exhaust administrative remedies prior to filing a habeas petition.” /d. As before, “the Court finds that the near universal rejection of Respondents’ interpretation of the INA by federal district courts to be highly persuasive and will adopt the

same approach.” /d. at*5. Petitioner's detention under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2)(A) is unlawful because the plain language of this provision and the statutory framework of the INA compels a finding that § 1225(b)(2)(A) applies only to noncitizens who are affirmatively seeking admission to the United States, not noncitizens like Petitioner who have resided in the United States for years.2 See Bethancourt Soto v. Soto, 807 F. Supp. 3d. 397, 408 (D.N.J. 2025) (“For all these reasons, the Court concludes that § 1225(b)(2)(A) applies only to noncitizens who are actively, i.e., affirmatively, ‘seeking admission’ to the United States. Accordingly, it does not apply to individuals like Petitioner, who has been residing in the United States ‘for over seven years.””); see also Patel, 2025 WL 3516865 at *5 (same). Like other Courts to address this issue, the Court finds that Respondents’ interpretation of the phrase “seeking admission” violates the rule against surplusage, would

3 The Supreme Court has also acknowledged that 8 U.S.C. § 1226 “generally governs the process of arresting and detaining ... aliens already in the country pending the outcome of removal proceedings.’ Jennings v. Rodriguez, 583 U.S. 281, 288-89 (2018) (emphasis added); /d. at 303 (“As noted, § 1226 applies to aliens already present in the United States.”). In addition, despite the Board of Immigration Appeals holding in Matter of Yajure Hurtado, 29 |. & N. Dec. 216 (BIA 2025), that 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2)(A) applies to noncitizens like Petitioner, “[t]his Court owes no deference to an agency's interpretation that conflicts with the statute's unambiguous text.” Bethancourt Soto, 807 F. Supp. 3d at 408 (citing Loper Bright Enters. v. Raimondo, 603 U.S. 369, 400-01 (2024)).

negate the plain meaning of the text, and make redundant Section 1226(c) mandatory detention of noncitizens who have committed or are charged with certain specified crimes.‘ See Centeno Ibbara, 2025 WL 3294726, at *5-6 ("The governments interpretation of § 1225(b)(2) violates the rule against surplusage. If ‘an applicant seeking admission’ is the

same as ‘an applicant for admission,’ then ‘seeking admission’ is surplusage. Congress has also recently adopted provisions in § 1226 that would be made superfluous under the government's interpretation. If a noncitizen enters the country illegally and is subsequently convicted or charged with certain crimes, these new provisions require that noncitizens be detained without a bond hearing. Under the government's interpretation, § 1225 would require such mandatory detention regardless of criminal charges or conviction. If this was the case, Congress would have no need to create additional requirements for mandatory detention.”). Here, although Petitioner is an “applicant for admission,” he is not “seeking admission” into the United States. Because Petitioner is not “seeking admission” into the United States, Section 1225(b)(2)(A) does not apply to him.5 See Cunha, __F.4*__, 2026

4 “If possible, every word and every provision is to be given effect (verba cum effectu sunt accipienda). None should be ignored. None should needlessly be given an interpretation that causes it to duplicate another provision or to have no consequence.” Antonin Scalia & Bryan A. Garner, Reading Law: The Interpretation of Legal Texts 174 (Thomson/West eds., 1st Ed. 2012). 5 The Court acknowledges that Respondent cite to the Fifth Circuit's recent decision in Buenrosto- Mendez v. Bondi, __ F.4"__, 2026 WL 323330 (5th Cir. 2026), in which the Fifth Circuit—in a 2-1 decision— held that noncitizens like Petitioner were “applicants for admission” to the United States who were “seeking admission” and were thus subject to the INA’s mandatory detention provision. The Fifth Circuit's ruling is not binding on this Court. Similarly, the Court is aware of the Eighth Circuit's decision in Avila v. Bondi, holding that noncitizens are subject to mandatory detention as an “applicant for admission” who was “seeking

WL 1146044, at *6 (“Here, although Petitioner is an applicant for admission under the statutory definition because he is present in the country and has never been admitted, it simply cannot be said that he is ‘seeking admission,’ as he is not requesting lawful entry into the United States.”). Accordingly, the Court will grant the petition and order Petitioner's release from custody. Petitioner's request for fees and costs under the Equal Access to Justice Act will be held in abeyance pending the receipt of a fee petition. Michelin v. Warden Moshannon Valey Corr. Cent., __ F. 4t"__, 2026 WL 263438, at *11 (3d Cir. Feb. 2, 2026) (allowing fees under EAJA in immigration habeas proceedings under 28 U.S.C. § 2241). IV. CONCLUSION For the foregoing reasons, Petitioner's habeas petition will be granted because his mandatory detention under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2)(A) without a bond hearing is unlawful. Because the Respondents maintain that a bond hearing is not required and the Respondents’ interpretation is inconsistent with the INA, Respondents will be directed to immediately release Petitioner from the custody of the Warden of Pike County Correctional Facility and file a declaration pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1746 confirming that Petitioner has been released from custody. See Boumediene v. Bush, 553 U.S. 723, 779 (2008) (acknowledging that a habeas court has “the power to order the conditional release of an

adinission.” Avila v. Bondi, _ F4t __, 2026 WL 819258 (8th Cir. Mar. 25, 2026). The Eighth Circuit's holding is not binding on this Court.

individual unlawfully detained—though release need not be the exclusive remedy and is not the appropriate one in every case in which the writ is granted.”): see also Bethancourt Soto, 807 F. Supp. 3d at 410 (ordering immediate release): Flores Obando, 2025 WL 3452047, at *3 (same); Kashranov, 2025 WL 3188399, at *8 (same); Patel, 2025 WL 3516865, at *6 (same). Respondents will further be permanently enjoined from detaining Petitioner under 8 U.S.C. § 1225, absent a compelling change in circumstances. See Bethancourt Soto, 807 F. Supp. 3d at 410 (permanently enjoining respondents from detaining petitioner under § 1225 where petitioner did not file a motion for temporary restraining order or motion for preliminary injunction); see also Maldonado, 2025 WL 2985256, at *7 (“The Court grants the writ of habeas corpus and orders Respondents to release Petitioner within 24 hours. . . . Following Petitioner's release, Respondents are permanently enjoined from rearresting or otherwise detaining Petitioner under § 1225(b)(2).”); Patel, 2025 WL 3516865, at *7. If Respondents elects to later detain Petitioner under 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a), the Respondents must provide Petitioner with notice and an opportunity to be heard at a timely individualized bond hearing, where an IJ will assess whether he is a danger or flight risk. A separate Order follows. ~~,

i ANta Robert D. Mariani United States District Judge