Gurlal Singh Singh v. Markwayne Mullin, et al.

District Court, W.D. Oklahoma·Decided August 31, 2026·No. 5:26-cv-01161·Unknown

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF OKLAHOMA

GURLAL SINGH SINGH, ) ) Petitioner, ) ) v. ) Case No. CIV-26-1161-J ) MARKWAYNE MULLIN, et al., ) ) Respondents. )

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

Petitioner Gurlal Singh Singh, a citizen of India proceeding with counsel, filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 (“Petition”) challenging his detention by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”).1 (Doc. 1).2 United States District Judge Bernard M. Jones, II, referred the matter to the undersigned Magistrate Judge for initial proceedings consistent with 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B), (C). (Doc. 4). In accordance with the expedited briefing schedule, (Doc. 8), Respondents timely filed a Response.3 (Doc. 10). Petitioner timely filed a Reply. (Doc. 11). As fully set forth below, the undersigned recommends that the Petition be DENIED.

1 Petitioner is housed at Diamondback Correctional Facility in Watonga, Oklahoma. (Doc. 1, at 2).

2 Citations to the parties’ filings and attached exhibits will refer to this Court’s CM/ECF pagination.

3 The Response was not filed on behalf of Respondent Fred Figueroa because he is not a federal official. The undersigned finds no separate response is necessary. I. Factual Background Petitioner is a citizen of India who entered the United States without inspection on

or about October 10, 2023. (Doc. 1, at Ex. 1, at 2). On October 13, 2023, ICE instituted removal proceedings against him through issuance of a Notice to Appear (“NTA”), alleging he was an alien present in the United States who had not been admitted or paroled. (Id.) Plaintiff alleges he was then released on his own recognizance. (Doc. 1, at 3). Petitioner asserts he filed a Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal, on September 25, 2025. (Id. at 7). On or about January 23, 2026,4 Petitioner contends he was

arrested and detained by ICE “without a judicial warrant” and “for no apparent lawful reason.” (Id. at 7). Petitioner filed a habeas action on January 26, 2026. Singh Singh v. De Anda- Ybarra, Case No. CIV-26-128-J, ECF No. 1 (W.D. Okla. Jan. 26, 2026). On April 7, 2026, the Court determined that 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a) governed Petitioner’s detention and ordered

the respondents to provide Petitioner with an individualized bond hearing within five business days or otherwise release him. Id. 2026 WL 937558, at *2 (W.D. Okla. Apr. 7, 2026). A bond hearing was held on April 13, 2026, and an immigration judge determined Petitioner’s ongoing detention is justified. (Doc. 10, at Ex. 1, at 3-6). Petitioner filed this action on May 20, 2026. (Doc. 1)

An immigration judge ordered Petitioner’s removal on June 10, 2026. EOIR Automated Case Information, https://acis.eoir.justice.gov/en/caseInformation (last

4 Elsewhere in the Petition, he alleges he was detained on January 28, 2026. (Doc. 1, at 2, 7). That date, however, is after he filed his first habeas petition. accessed Aug. 31, 2026). Petitioner filed an appeal on July 30, 2026, which remains pending. Id. Thus, his removal order is not administratively final. 8 U.S.C. §

1101(a)(47)(B) (removal orders become administratively final upon the earlier of “(i) a determination by the Board of Immigration Appeals affirming such order; or (ii) the expiration of the period in which the alien is permitted to seek review of such order by the Board of Immigration Appeals”). II. Petitioner’s Claims and Respondents’ Responses

A. The Petition Petitioner’s first claim is that his detention violates the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. (Doc. 1, at 11, 16-18). The claim, which he contends is based on his arbitrary detention, is based on an allegation that “Respondents’ purported basis for detaining Petitioner [is] under 8 U.S.C. [§] 1225(b)(2).” (Id. at 17). So, he states that “the placement of Petitioner in detention pending the resolution of ongoing immigration

proceedings violates” his constitutional right to due process. (Id. at 18). Petitioner’s second claim is a violation of the Administrative Procedure Act (“APA”), in which he alleges violations of 8 U.S.C. § 1226(b) and 8 C.F.R. § 1236.1(c)(9). (Id. at 18-19). He asserts that “Respondents’ detention of Petitioner pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b) is arbitrary, capricious, and not in accordance with law.” (Id. at 19). He also

contends that “Respondents have failed to articulate a reasoned explanation for Petitioner’s continued detention, failed to consider obvious, less-restrictive alternatives to detention, and failed to conduct an [sic] pre-detention individualized assessment or provide Petitioner with an opportunity to contest his detention.” (Id.) Outside of these claims, Petitioner contends that 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a) “require[s] that a judicial warrant was issued before his detention” and no such warrant was issued. (Id. at

15). Further, he contends that the “immigration judge failed to meaningfully consider the evidence presented and relied on factors that lack probative value as to flight risk” at the bond hearing held after relief was granted in his first habeas action. (Id. at 2). He also argues he is entitled to a bond hearing where the Government bears the burden of proving, by clear and convincing evidence, that Petitioner is a flight risk and a danger to the community. (Id. at 15).

As relief Petitioner requests immediate release from custody. (Id. at 19). Petitioner additionally asks that Respondents return Petitioner’s seized property. (Id. at 20). Further, Petitioner requests that the Court prohibit his transfer during the pendency of this action.5

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