Singh v. Grant et al

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
WESTERN DISTRICT OF OKLAHOMA
NAVJOT SINGH, )
)
Petitioner, )
)
v. ) Case No. CIV-26-263-J
)
SCARLET GRANT et al., )
)
Respondents. )
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
Petitioner Navjot Singh, a noncitizen1 and citizen of India, proceeding with counsel,
filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 challenging his detention
by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). (ECF No. 1). United States District
Judge Bernard M. Jones II referred this matter to the undersigned magistrate judge in
accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B)-(C). Petitioner also filed a Motion for
Temporary Restraining Order and a Motion to Issue Judgment. (ECF Nos. 7 & 14).
Respondents filed a Response. (ECF No. 12). For the reasons set forth below, the
undersigned recommends that the Court grant the Petition, in part, and order
Respondents to provide Petitioner a bond hearing pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a) within
seven business days or otherwise to release him if there is no hearing within that time.
1
Unless quoting, this Report and Recommendation “uses the term ‘noncitizen’ as equivalent to
the statutory term ‘alien.’”
Nasrallah v. Barr, 590 U.S. 573, 578 n.2 (2020) (citing 8 U.S.C.
§ 1101(a)(3)).
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I. BACKGROUND
Petitioner, a citizen of India, entered the United States on January 7, 2022. (ECF
No. 1:5. On January 10, 2022, ICE officials placed Petitioner into removal proceedings
before the Immigration Court pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1229a through a Notice to Appear
and charged him with being inadmissible as an alien present in the United Stated who
had not been admitted or paroled.
See ECF No. 1-1. That same date, however, ICE
officials released Petitioner on his own recognizance. (ECF No. 1-2:2-3). Petitioner
submitted a Form I-589 Asylum Application on March 30, 2022. (ECF No. 1-4). Petitioner
was re-detained by ICE on or about November 1, 2025 and is currently detained at the
Cimmaron Correctional Facility.2
II. PETITIONER’S CLAIMS
Petitioner asserts three counts in his Petition.
• Counts I & II: Violations of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (“INA”). Petitioner alleges his continued detention under
§ 1225(b)(2) is unlawful and violates the INA because that provision
does not apply to all noncitizens in the United States who are
inadmissible and he is entitled to a bond hearing under § 1226(a).
• Count III: Violation of Due Process. Petitioner alleges his
continued detention without an individualized bond redetermination
hearing violates his right to due process.
(ECF No. 1:15-17). Petitioner asks the Court to “issue a Writ of Habeas Corpus requiring
that Respondents release Petitioner from custody immediately on the same conditions he
2
See ECF No. 1:13; https://locator.ice.gov/odls/#/results (last visited Apr. 9, 2026).
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was subject to immediately prior to his recent detention or provide him with a bond
hearing pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a) or the Due Process Clause within seven days[.]”
Petitioner also seeks declaratory and injunctive relief and an award of attorney fees and
costs under the Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”).3 (ECF No. 1:18).
III. STANDARD OF REVIEW
To obtain habeas corpus relief, Petitioner must show that he is “in custody in
violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the United States.” 28 U.S.C.
§ 2241(c)(3). “Challenges to immigration detention are properly brought directly through
habeas.”
Soberanes v. Comfort, 388 F.3d 1305, 1310 (10th Cir. 2004) (citing
Zadvydas
v. Davis, 533 U.S. 678, 687-88 (2001)).
IV. SECTION 1226(a) APPLIES TO PETITIONER’S DETENTION
The two sections of the INA at issue are 8 U.S.C. §§ 1225 and 1226. Section
1225(a)(1) describes an “applicant for admission” as “an alien present in the United States
who has not been admitted or who arrives in the United States.”
Id. § 1225(a)(1) (citation
modified). Under § 1225(b)(2)(A), “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.” If Petitioner is an “applicant for
3
To the extent Petitioner may be entitled to EAJA fees and costs as a prevailing party, he must
seek those separately after a final judgment. 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(1)(B). Thus, the Court need
not address this request at this juncture.
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admission” and “seeking admission” under § 1225(b)(2)(A), he is not entitled to a bond
hearing. On the other hand, Section 1226(a) more generally authorizes detention of a
noncitizen pending removal proceedings and entitles the noncitizen to a bond hearing.
See Jennings v. Rodriguez, 583 U.S. 281, 306 (“Federal regulations provide that aliens
detained under § 1226(a) receive bond hearings at the outset of detention.”) (citing 8
C.F.R. §§ 236.1(d)(1), 1236.1(d)(1)).
Petitioner argues he is being held in violation of the INA and § 1225(b)(2) does
not apply to all noncitizens residing in the United States who are inadmissible. (ECF No.
1:12-15). Petitioner contends that as relevant to his case, § 1225(b)(2) “does not apply
to individuals like Petitioner who previously entered and are now residing in the United
States. Instead, such individuals are subject to a different statute, § 1226(a), that allows
for release on conditional parole or bond. That statute expressly applies to people who,
like Petitioner, are charged as inadmissible for having entered the United States without
inspection” (ECF No. 1:3).
Respondents contend Petitioner is an “applicant for admission” and properly
detained under § 1225(b)(2)(A). (ECF No. 12:11). Further, Respondents claim: (1)
§ 1225(b)(2)(A) is not limited to noncitizens “arriving” in the United States, and (2) §
1225(b)(2) is a “catchall provision that applies to
all applicants for admission not covered
by § 1225(b)(1).” (ECF No. 12:12).
The undersigned has reviewed the statutory text, Congressional intent, legislative
history, and § 1226(a)’s application for the past three decades, as well as numerous
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recent cases addressing this exact issue. For the reasons stated below, and adopting this
Court’s reasoning in
Coreas v. Noem, No. CIV-26-151-J, 2026 WL 541151, at *2 (W.D.
Okla. Feb. 26, 2026), the undersigned recommends the Court grant the Petition in part
to the extent Petitioner seeks a bond hearing under § 1226(a).
First, the INA limits the scope of the terms “applicant for admission” and, in
particular, “seeking admission” in § 1225(b)(2)(A) so that section does not apply to
noncitizens living in the United States when detained. Section 1225(b)(2)(A) “only applies
when a noncitizen ‘applicant for admission’ is actively ‘seeking admission’ into the United
States.”
Coreas, 2026 WL 541151, at *2. “If all ‘applicants for admission’ are also ‘seeking
admission,’ then § 1225(b)(2)(A)’s inclusion of the phrase ‘seeking admission’ would be
redundant and courts should avoid statutory interpretations that make any part of the
statute superfluous.”
Diaz v. Holt, No. CIV-25 1179-J, 2025 WL 3296310, at *2 (W.D.
Okla. Nov. 26, 2025) (citation modified). The undersigned best understands mandatory
detention under § 1225(b)(2)(A) to apply to arriving noncitizens actively seeking
admission at or near the border or port of entry—not those like Petitioner who have
resided in the United States for years and were not arrested when trying to cross the
border.
In addition, the legislative history and recent amendment of § 1226 indicate that
section applies to noncitizens who previously entered without inspection and were
residing in the United States when apprehended. Notably, after passage of the Illegal
Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, the Department of Justice
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explained that “despite being applicants for admission, aliens who are present without
having been admitted or paroled . . . will be eligible for bond and bond redetermination.”
Inspection and Expedited Removal of Aliens; Detention and Removal of Aliens; Conduct
of Removal Proceedings; Asylum Procedures, 62 Fed. Reg. 10312, 10323 (Mar. 6, 1997)
(citation modified). Further, Congress’ recent amendment to § 1226 mandating detention
for certain criminal noncitizens renders Respondents’ interpretation of § 1225(b)(2)(A)
superfluous.
Finally, this Court, Chief Judge DeGiusti, Judge Palk, Judge Russell, Judge Heaton,
and myriad district courts have recently applied § 1226(a) to govern detention of
noncitizens like Petitioner.4 This conclusion is also in accord with the Seventh Circuit,
which rejected the statutory interpretation of § 1225(b)(2) as urged by Respondents.
See
Castañon-Nava v. U.S. Dep’t of Homeland Sec., 161 F.4th 1048, 1061 (7th Cir. 2025).
But see Avila v. Bondi, --- F.4th ---, 2026 WL 819258, at *1 (8th Cir. 2026);
Buenrostro-
Mendez v. Bondi, 166 F.4th 494 (5th Cir. 2026) (agreeing with Respondents’
interpretation).
4
See, e.g., Coreas, 2026 WL 541151, at *2;
Lopez v. Corecivic Cimmaron Corr. Facility, No.CIV-
25-1175-SLP, 2026 WL165490, at *1(W.D. Okla. Jan. 21,2026);
Ramirez Rojas v. Noem, No. CIV-
25-1236-HE, 2026 WL 94641, at *1 (W.D. Okla. Jan. 13, 2026);
Valdez v. Holt, No. CIV-25-1250-
R, 2025 WL 3709021, at *3 (W.D. Okla. Dec. 22, 2025);
Colin v. Holt, CIV-25-1189-D, 2025 WL
3645176, at *5 (W.D. Okla. Dec. 16, 2025). Two Judges in the District have applied §
1225(b)(2)(A) to a similarly situated petitioner.
See Gutierrez Sosa v. Holt, No. CIV-25-1257-PRW,
2026 WL 36344, at *3 (W.D. Okla. Jan. 6, 2026);
Alvarado Montoya, No. CIV-25-01231-JD, 2025
WL 3733302, at *12 (W.D. Okla. Dec. 26, 2025).
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The undersigned agrees with this Court’s reasoning, the majority of Judges in this
District, and the great weight of authority to conclude Petitioner falls within the confines
of § 1226(a), and not § 1225(b)(2)(A).
See Coreas, 2026 WL 541151, at *2 (finding §
1226(a) governs a similarly situated petitioner’s detention and “agree[ing] with the
Seventh Circuit’s reasoning, the majority of the other courts in this district, the
overwhelming number of other courts that recently addressed this question, and this
Court’s prior rulings”);
accord Puentes-Puentes v. Grant, No. CIV-26-192-J, 2026 WL
657199, at *2 (W.D. Okla. Mar. 9, 2026) (concluding “unless the Tenth Circuit and/or
Supreme Court hold differently, the matter is well settled in this Court and further
discussion is unwarranted” (citation modified)).
Accordingly, the undersigned recommends the Court apply § 1226(a) to govern
Petitioner’s current detention. The Court should grant the Petition in part and order
Respondents to provide Petitioner with a bond hearing under § 1226(a) before a neutral
IJ within seven business days or otherwise release him if he does not have a lawful bond
hearing within that period.
V. PETITIONER’S REMAINING CLAIMS
In Counts Two and Three, Petitioner argues an additional violation of the INA and
Due Process through his continued detention without a bond hearing. (ECF No. 1:15-17).
If the Court grants Petitioner’s requested relief for a bond hearing under § 1226(a), the
undersigned recommends the Court decline to decide the merits of Counts Two and
Three.
See, e.g., Coreas, 2026 WL 541151, at *2 (declining to decide the merits of a
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petitioner’s due process claim when granting a bond hearing pursuant to § 1226(a)).
Further, considering the recommended relief, the Court need not address Petitioner’s
request for declaratory judgment and permanent injunctive relief, and the Court should
find Petitioner’s Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and Motion to Issue Judgment
(ECF Nos. 7 & 14) moot.
VI. RECOMMENDATION AND NOTICE OF RIGHT TO OBJECT
For the foregoing reasons, the undersigned recommends that the Court GRANT
in part the Petition for habeas relief by ordering Respondents to provide Petitioner with
a bond hearing under 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a) within seven business days or otherwise release
Petitioner if he has not received a lawful bond hearing within that period. The undersigned
further recommends the Court order Respondents to certify compliance by filing a status
report within seven business days of the Court’s order.
The parties are advised of their right to object to this Report and Recommendation.
See 28 U.S.C. § 636. Any objection must be filed not later than April 17, 2026.
See id.
§ 636(b)(1); Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)(2). If a party wishes to respond to the other party’s
objections, such response must be filed not later than April 24, 2026.
See Fed. R. Civ.
P. 72(b)(2). The parties are further advised that failure to make timely objection to this
Report and Recommendation waives the right to appellate review of both factual and
legal issues contained herein.
Casanova v. Ulibarri, 595 F.3d 1120, 1123 (10th Cir. 2010).
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This Report and Recommendation disposes of all issues and terminates the referral
to the undersigned Magistrate Judge in the captioned matter.
ENTERED on April 10, 2026.
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