Villafranca Lara v. Ladwig

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE
WESTERN DIVISION
AUCEL VILLAFRANCA LARA,
Petitioner,
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No. 2:26-cv-02079-SHL-tmp
v.
SCOTT LADWIG, Acting Director of the
New Orleans Field Office of ICE, in his
official capacity,
Respondent.
ORDER REQUIRING SERVICE AND STAYING TRANSFER
On January 28, 2026, Petitioner Aucel Villafranca Lara filed the Petition for a Writ of
Habeas Corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2241. (ECF No. 1.) Villafranca Lara challenges his continued
detention in the West Tennessee Detention Facility without a bond hearing, and seeks his
“immediate, unconditional release,” arguing that his detention is “void ab initio” and that
“[u]nconditional release is the only remedy that addresses the unlawful deprivation of liberty.”
(ECF No. 1-2 at PageID 15.) Villafranca Lara states that, in addition to the requirements for
service, a copy of the petition will be emailed to Stuart Canale, Assistant United States Attorney.
(ECF No. 11 at PageID 34.) Upon review of the Petition, it is ORDERED as follows:
(1) 	Villafranca Lara shall within five days of this Order deliver a copy of this Order
to the United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee electronically at the
following email address: stuart.canale@usdoj.gov. Failure to fully comply with this
requirement may justify dismissal of the Petition. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b) (“If the plaintiff fails
to . . . comply with these rules or a court order, a defendant may move to dismiss the action or
any claim against it.”).
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(2) 	Within five days after Villafranca Lara fully complies with the above
requirement, Respondent Scott Ladwig shall respond to the petition for writ of habeas corpus in
writing.
(3) 	Villafranca Lara may file a reply within two days after Ladwig’s responsive
filing.
(4) 	Ladwig shall not transfer Villafranca Lara out of the West Tennessee Detention
Center during the pendency of the Petition.
IT IS SO ORDERED, this 4th day of February, 2026.
s/ Sheryl H. Lipman
SHERYL H. LIPMAN
CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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