Nhan Hoang Truong v. Tonya Andrews

District Court, E.D. California·Decided March 2, 2026·No. 1:26-cv-00449·Unknown

Opinion

NHAN HOANG TRUONG, No. 1:26-cv-00449 DC CSK Petitioner, v. ORDER AND FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Respondent. Petitioner, an immigration detainee, filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241.1 Petitioner is a native and citizen of Vietnam. On July 20, 1998, petitioner was admitted to the United States as a lawful permanent resident. On September 1, 2010, petitioner was ordered removed to Vietnam by an immigration judge, and petitioner was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”). After the government was unable to remove petitioner to Vietnam, he was released under an order of supervision. On October 29, 2025, petitioner was re-detained by ICE. This habeas action concerns petitioner’s October 29, 2025 re-detention. For the following reasons, this Court recommends that the petition be granted and that petitioner be released. /// 1 Petitioner paid the filing fee and is proceeding without counsel. This matter proceeds before the undersigned pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636, Fed. R. Civ. P. 72, and Local Rule 302(c)(17). I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND2 Petitioner was born in the Philippines in a refugee camp on April 20, 1988. (ECF No. 1 at 9; ECF No. 8-2 at 17, 21.) Government documents indicate that petitioner is a citizen of Vietnam. (ECF No. 8-2 at 7; ECF No. 8-3 at 5, 6.) On July 20, 1988, petitioner was admitted into the United States as a lawful permanent resident. (ECF No. 8-3 at 6, 7.) After petitioner was convicted of various marijuana-related controlled substances violations, on July 25, 2010, a Notice to Appear was issued to petitioner charging petitioner as subject to removal. (See (ECF No. 8-1 at ¶¶ 6-8; ECF No. 8-2 at 5-7.) On September 1, 2010, an immigration judge ordered petitioner removed to Vietnam. (ECF No. 8-2 at 11; ECF No. 8-3 at 4.) Petitioner was detained by ICE. Petitioner states that after the immigration judge ordered him removed to Vietnam in 2010, Vietnam did not accept him. (ECF No. 1 at 9.) After detaining petitioner for three months in 2010 in an ICE detention facility in Florence, Arizona, ICE released petitioner under an Order of Supervision. (Id.) “On February 2, 2012, Petitioner was convicted of misconduct involving weapons and narcotic drug possession/use.” (ECF No. 8-1 at ¶ 11.) In 2015, ICE detained petitioner a second time for three months at the detention facility in Florence, Arizona. (ECF No. 1 at 9.) Vietnam again did not issue travel documents for petitioner. (Id.) ICE released petitioner under an Order of Supervision. (Id.) On July 25, 2018, petitioner was convicted of “possession of a dangerous drug and possession/use of a narcotic drug.” (Id., ¶ 13.) In 2020, ICE detained petitioner a third time for three months. (ECF No. 1 at 9.) Vietnam again did not issue travel documents for petitioner. (Id.) Petitioner was released under an Order of Supervision. (Id.) On June 19, 2021, petitioner was convicted of drug possession. (ECF No. 8-1 at ¶ 14.) On November 1, 2021, petitioner was convicted of “stolen vehicle.” (ECF No. 8-1 at ¶ 15.) On December 7, 2022, petitioner was convicted of “conspiracy to commit a crime, drug possession

2 The Court summarizes petitioner’s detention history by ICE and criminal history as presented by the parties. In a verified declaration attached to the petition, petitioner provides his past detention by ICE (ECF No. 1 at 9), which Respondent does not dispute (see ECF No. 8). Respondent provides petitioner’s criminal history through a Detention Officer’s declaration (ECF No. 8-1 at ¶¶ 6-8, 10-16), and petitioner did not file a reply or traverse responding to or contesting respondent’s assertions regarding his criminal history (see Docket). for sale, theft and human trafficking.” (Id., ¶ 16.) On October 29, 2025, petitioner reported to the Maricopa County Adult Probation Office in Glendale, Arizona where he was taken into ICE custody. (ECF No. 8-1 at ¶ 17.) He was transferred from state custody into ICE custody. (Id., ¶ 21.) On December 2, 2025, ICE applied for a travel document for petitioner with the Consul General of Vietnam.3 (ECF No. 8-1 at ¶ 18; ECF No. 8-2 at 2-4.) On January 4, 2026, petitioner was transferred from the ICE Florence Correctional Center in Arizona to the ICE Golden State Annex facility in California. (ECF No. 8-1 at ¶ 20.) On January 20, 2026, petitioner filed his petition for writ of habeas corpus in this district raising two claims for relief. (ECF No. 1.) In claim one, petitioner argues that his continued detention violates the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment. (Id. at 6.) In claim two, petitioner argues that his continued detention violates the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment, 8 C.F.R. § 241.13 and the Administrative Procedures Act. (Id.) On January 27, 2026, this Court directed respondent to file a response to the petition within seven days and ordered that petitioner may file a reply within ten days after being served with the response. (ECF No. 3.) On February 3, 2026, respondent filed a motion for a three-day extension of time to file the answer. (ECF No. 6.) On February 6, 2026, respondent filed an answer. (ECF No. 8.) Good cause appearing, the motion for extension of time is granted and the answer is deemed timely filed. Petitioner did not file a reply to the answer. 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 I, § 9, cl. 2). “The essence of habeas corpus is an attack by a person in

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