Case Name in Immigration Case - Unavailable

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF GEORGIA
COLUMBUS DIVISION
SAYDA AYALA o/b/o E.S.R-M., :
:
Petitioner, :
:
v. : Case No. 4:26-cv-106-CDL-ALS
:
Warden, STEWART DETENTION :
CENTER, et al., :
:
Respondents. :
______________________________________
ORDER
On January 20, 2026, the Court received Ms. Sayda Ayala’s putative next friend pro se
application for habeas corpus relief under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 on behalf of E.S.R-M., and a motion
to accept Ms. Ayala’s next friend status on behalf of E.S.R-M. (ECF Nos. 1, 2). Having reviewed
Ms. Ayala’s brief and declaration in support of her status as next friend on behalf of E.S.R-M. in
response to the Court’s order for supplemental briefing on her request to proceed as next friend
(ECF Nos. 4, 7), the Court finds Ms. Ayala has sufficiently alleged that E.S.R-M. is suffering from
inaccessibility, combined with physical and linguistic barriers, sufficient to demonstrate that
E.S.R-M. is incapable of prosecuting this action. Francis v. Warden, FCC Coleman-USP, 246 F.
App’x 621, 622 (11th Cir. 2007) (quoting Whitmore v. Arkansas, 495 U.S. 149, 163 (1990)); see
also 28 U.S.C. § 2242 (permitting an application for habeas relief to be signed by “someone acting
in his behalf.”). Further, the Court finds that Ms. Ayala has demonstrated her dedication to the best
interests of E.S.R-M. and has a significant relationship with E.S.R-M. such that she should be
permitted to proceed on his behalf. Whitmore, 495 U.S. at 163-64. Accordingly, Ms. Ayala’s
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motions to proceed as next friend on behalf of E.S.R-M. (ECF Nos. 2, 5) are GRANTED. Further
orders of this Court will refer to Ms. Ayala and E.S.R-M. jointly as Petitioner.
Having also initially reviewed Petitioner’s amended application (ECF No. 6), the Court
finds good cause to extend the time for a response. 28 U.S.C. § 2243. Accordingly, Respondents
shall have twenty-one (21) days to file a comprehensive response to said amended application.
Within fourteen (14) days thereafter, Petitioner should file any desired reply. The Court will
consider whether to hold an evidentiary hearing once briefing is complete.
SO ORDERED, this 5th day of February, 2026.
s/ ALFREDA L. SHEPPARD
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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