Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_20-cv-02064/USCOURTS-cand-3_20-cv-02064-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 465
Nature of Suit: Other Immigration Actions
Cause of Action: 8:1105(a) Aliens: Habeas Corpus to Release INS Detainee

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SOFIA BAHENA ORTUÑO, et al.,

Petitioners-Plaintiffs,

v.

DAVID JENNINGS, et al.,

Respondents-Defendants.

Case No. 20-cv-02064-MMC 

ORDER RE: PETITIONERS' MOTION 

FOR TEMPORARY RESTRAINING 

ORDER; DIRECTIONS TO PARTIES

Before the Court is petitioners' Motion, filed March 24, 2020, for a Temporary 

Restraining Order, by which they seek an order releasing them from detention. 

Respondents have filed opposition, to which petitioners have replied; in addition, with 

leave of court, respondents have filed two supplemental declarations, to which petitioners 

have filed their objections.

Having read and considered the above-referenced filings,1the Court rules as 

follows to the extent the motion is brought on behalf of all petitioners other than Olvin 

Said Torres Murillo and Mauricio Ernesto Quinteros Lopez, as to whom the Court, for the 

reasons stated in its order of April 3, 2020, has deferred ruling pending further briefing.

BACKGROUND

Petitioners are individuals who are being detained at either the Yuba County Jail 

("Yuba") or the Mesa Verde ICE Processing Facility ("Mesa Verde"), pending ongoing 

1On April 6, 2020, petitioners filed a Statement of Recent Decisions and 

respondents filed a Statement of Recent Decision, both of which the Court has also 

considered.

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removal proceedings or effectuation of a final order of removal.2 Petitioners allege they 

are being detained under circumstances that violate their due process rights, specifically, 

their "substantive due process right" to be free from "conditions of confinement that 

amount to punishment or create an unreasonable risk to detainees' safety and health." 

As relief, petitioners seek, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241, an order of release from 

detention.

LEGAL STANDARD

"Temporary restraining orders are governed by the same standard applicable to 

preliminary injunctions." Quiroga v. Chen, 735 F. Supp. 2d 1226, 1228 (D. Nev. 2010). 

"A plaintiff seeking a preliminary injunction must establish that he is likely to succeed on 

the merits, that he is likely to suffer irreparable harm in the absence of preliminary relief, 

that the balance of equities tips in his favor, and that an injunction is in the public 

interest." Winter v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., 555 U.S. 7, 24 (2008). 

Additionally, where, as here, a plaintiff seeks a mandatory injunction, the plaintiff, to 

establish the first factor, must show a "clear likelihood of success on the merits." See

Stanley v. University of Southern California, 13 F.3d 1313, 1316 (9th Cir. 1994).

DISCUSSION

The world is currently experiencing a global pandemic in light of the coronavirus 

COVID-19. As of today's date, more than 419,000 persons in the United States have 

become infected with COVID-19, more than 14,250 persons have died, and there is no 

indication the pandemic has reached its peak.

In a very short period of time, and particularly in the past month, COVID-19 has 

brought dramatic changes to the country, including the State of California's issuance of 

an order directing all persons living in the state to "stay home" and to "at all times practice 

2Although petitioners Sofia Bahena Ortuño and Roxana del Carmen Trigueros 

Acevedo were, at the time the motion was filed, being detained at Mesa Verde, both said 

petitioners subsequently were released. (See Defs.' Opp. at 5:23-24; Supp. Bonnar Decl. 

¶ 5.) Accordingly, to the extent the motion is brought on their behalf, it will be denied as 

moot.

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social distancing." See Cal. Executive Order N-33-20. The Centers for Disease Control 

and Prevention ("CDC") likewise has advised all person to "stay home as much as 

possible," to "take everyday precautions to keep space between yourself and others," 

and to "avoid crowds as much as possible," noting that the "risk of exposure . . . may 

increase in crowded, closed-in settings with little air circulation." See

www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/get-ready.html.

Although there is no indication, at least in the record before the Court, that any 

particular person or type of person is more susceptible to becoming infected with COVID19, the CDC has determined that certain types of persons who do became infected are 

significantly more likely to have a severe illness or to die, including persons who are 65 

years of age or older, and those who have certain medical conditions, such as moderate 

to severe asthma, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, liver disease and hypertension. See

www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-at-higher-risk.html; 

www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/clinical-guidance-management-patients.html.

Petitioners argue that each of them has one or more of the above-described highrisk factors, and that they are unable to engage in social distancing and to take other 

steps to avoid infection. Under such circumstances, they seek release from detention 

until the pandemic is over.

In opposing the motion, respondents make two threshold arguments, specifically, 

(1) that petitioners lack Article III standing and (2) that a claim challenging conditions of 

confinement cannot be brought under § 2241.

With respect to standing, respondents argue, in essence, that no petitioner 

presently has COVID-19 and that any petitioner's likelihood of becoming infected is 

speculative. COVID-19 infections, however, are rapidly increasing in the United States, 

including California, and, when introduced into a confined space, such as a nursing 

home, a cruise ship, and, recently, a naval aircraft carrier, it can rapidly spread. Indeed, 

it has quickly spread in a number of jails and prisons. (See Wells Decl. Exs. C-E.) Under 

such circumstances, the Court finds petitioners have standing to assert their claims.

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Turning to petitioner's reliance on § 2241, which provides district courts with the 

power to issue writs of habeas corpus to persons being held in the custody of the United 

States, the Court notes that the Ninth Circuit, as early as 1974, has found it "fairly well 

established" that "federal habeas corpus actions are now available to deal with questions 

concerning both the duration and the conditions of confinement." See Workman v. 

Mitchell, 502 F.2d 1201, 1208 n.9 (9th Cir. 1974). Respondents have not cited any later 

case holding to the contrary. Accordingly, the Court finds petitioners may seek, pursuant 

to § 2241, relief from what they allege are unconstitutional conditions of confinement, and 

next addresses the factors that are "pertinent in assessing the propriety of any injunctive 

relief." See Winter, 555 U.S. at 32.

As to the first factor, likelihood of success on the merits, petitioner's claim, as 

noted, is that their conditions of confinement, in light of the present COVID-19 pandemic, 

are unconstitutional. In evaluating a claim that a detainee's conditions of confinement are 

unconstitutional, "the proper inquiry is whether those conditions amount to punishment." 

See Bell v. Wolfish, 441 U.S. 520, 535 (1979). "[P]unitive conditions," i.e., conditions 

amounting to punishment, occur "(1) where the challenged restrictions are expressly 

intended to punish, or (2) where the challenged restrictions serve an alternative, nonpunitive purpose but are nonetheless excessive in relation to the alternative purpose, or 

are employed to achieve objectives that could be accomplished in

. . . alternative and less harsh methods." See Jones v. Blanas, 393 F.3d 918, 932 (9th 

Cir. 2004) (internal quotations and citations omitted).

Here, petitioners do not assert respondents, by detaining them in the conditions 

petitioners challenge, are intending to punish them. Nor do petitioners dispute 

respondents' asserted purpose in detaining them, specifically, to ensure petitioners'

presence at immigration proceedings and the government's ability to effectuate any final 

orders of removal. Consequently, the issue here presented is whether petitioners are 

likely to show that, given their alleged health concerns, their detention is excessive in 

relation to the government's needs. In resolving that issue, the Court considers each 

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petitioner's showing separately, as "constitutional rights are personal." See Broadrick v. 

Oklahoma, 413 U.S. 601, 610 (1973).

First, as to Ricardo Vasquez Cruz ("Vasquez Cruz"), Ernesto Abroncio Uc 

Encarnacion ("Uc Encarnacion"), Julio Cesar Buendia Alas ("Buendia Alas"), and Marco 

Montoya Amaya ("Montoya"), the Court finds petitioners have not shown a "clear 

likelihood of success on the merits." See Stanley, 13 F.3d at 1316.

3

 Specifically, the 

record lacks evidence clearly demonstrating a medical condition that places any of them 

at a "higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19." See www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-

ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-at-higher-risk.html.

4

 Vasquez Cruz describes 

himself as diabetic, but Yuba medical staff lists him as prediabetic (see Kaiser Decl.

¶ 13), and he is taking metformin, a drug commonly used to treat prediabetics, see

www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prediabetes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20355284; 

prediabetes has not been recognized by the CDC as a high-risk factor. Uc Encarnacion

told his immigration counsel he had asthma as a child (see Yamane Decl. ¶ 5), but he 

has denied to the Yuba medical staff that he presently has asthma (see Kaiser Decl.

¶ 11). Although Buendia Alas states that, on dates that are undisclosed, he had 

"readings of high blood pressure" (see Buendia Alas Decl. ¶ 5), there is no showing he 

has been diagnosed with hypertension, i.e., that his blood pressure "consistently ranges 

from 130-139 systolic or 80-89 mm Hg diastolic," see www.heart.org/en/healthtopics/high-blood-pressure/understanding-blood-pressure-readings. Lastly, the parasitic 

infection with which Montoya has been "tentatively diagnosed" (see Wolfe-Roubatis Decl. 

3

In making this finding and the findings set forth below, the Court has considered 

hearsay evidence offered by petitioners and by respondents. See Flynt Distrib. Co. v. 

Harvey, 734 F. 2d 1389, 1394 (9th Cir. 1984) (holding district court did not err by 

considering hearsay evidence offered in connection with motion for preliminary injunction; 

finding "trial court may give even inadmissible evidence some weight when to do so 

serves the purpose of preventing irreparable harm before trial"). 

4Petitioners do not argue, and the Court does not consider whether, during the 

COVID-19 pandemic, it is unconstitutional for respondents to detain in crowded facilities 

persons who are not at such increased risk.

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¶¶ 8-9), is not included in the list of conditions identified by the CDC as high risk factors, 

and, although he states he has tuberculosis, his last chest x-ray was "within normal 

limits" and his last skin test was "found negative for TB" (see Bonnar Decl. ¶ 15). 

Accordingly, issuance of a temporary restraining order as to the above four petitioners 

will be denied.

The Court finds, however, petitioners have clearly shown four other petitioners are 

at high risk of severe illness if infected with COVID-19. The parties agree Salomon 

Medina Calderon ("Medina Calderon") has been diagnosed with and receives treatment 

for diabetes (see Medina Calderon Decl. ¶ 6; Kaiser Decl. ¶ 10); he has been 

"hospitalized many times despite taking diabetic medication" and has lost all vision in one 

eye and 70% of his vision in the other (see Medina Calderon ¶ 6). The parties agree 

Gennady V. Lavrus ("Lavrus") likewise has been diagnosed with and receives treatment 

for diabetes (see Upshaw Decl. ¶ 5; Kaiser Decl. ¶ 12); his condition is of a severity that 

requires him to take insulin by injection (see Upshaw Decl. ¶¶ 5, 7). The parties agree 

Charles Joseph ("Joseph") has asthma (see Joseph Decl. ¶ 13; Bonnar Decl. ¶ 10), 

which condition has required him, for the past six years, to use albuterol (see Joseph 

Decl. ¶ 13). Lastly, J Elias Solorio Lopez ("Solorio Lopez") is 82 years of age (see

Waldron Decl. ¶ 3; Bonnar Decl. ¶ 11), and, as reported by a physician who examined 

him in January 2020, has a "history of hypertension" and "polycystic kidney disease," as 

well as "severe malnutrition" and other ailments (see Waldron Decl. ¶ 8; Haar Decl.

¶ 2 and attachment thereto).

The Court further finds petitioners have clearly shown the above-referenced four 

petitioners cannot practice meaningful social distancing in their respective detention 

facilities. Petitioners have offered evidence, undisputed by respondents, that detainees, 

both at Yuba and Mesa Verde, are kept in close proximity, i.e., less than six feet apart, 

not only when in their living quarters (see Medina Calderon Decl. ¶ 16; Upshaw Decl.

¶ 19; Minchaca Ramos ¶¶ 12, 15; Joseph Decl. ¶¶ 9-10; Knox Decl. ¶ 9), but also during 

meals (see Supp. Weisner Decl. ¶ 4.ii; Rodarte ¶ 10; Knox Decl. ¶ 10; Bent Decl. ¶ 11; 

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Joseph Decl. ¶ 11), and, at Yuba, when lining up for temperature checks as well (see

Supp. Upshaw Decl. ¶ 6; Rodarte ¶ 10).5 Additionally, petitioners have offered evidence, 

undisputed by respondents, that detainees at Yuba and Mesa Verde have not been 

provided with masks (see Yamane Decl. ¶ 12; Rodarte Decl. ¶ 9; Bent Decl. ¶ 13; WolfeRoubatis Decl. ¶ 13), and respondents do not assert they have any plans to do so. 

Similarly, there is undisputed evidence that staff at Yuba and Mesa Verde, with limited 

exception, do not wear masks or other protective equipment when in the immediate 

vicinity of detainees. (See Yamane Decl. ¶ 12; Upshaw Decl. ¶¶ 12, 14; Supp. Upshaw 

¶¶ 7-8; Rodarte Decl. ¶ 9; Bent Decl. ¶ 13; Knox Decl. ¶¶ 7, 15; Supp. Joseph Decl. ¶ 7.)

Although, as noted, it is undisputed that respondents have a non-punitive purpose 

in detaining Medina Calderon, Lavrus, Joseph, and Solorio Lopez, namely to ensure their 

respective appearances at immigration proceedings and to effectuate any final orders of 

removal, the Court finds petitioners have made a strong showing that respondents' 

detaining them in the above-referenced conditions, in spite of their knowledge of said 

petitioners' respective high-risk status, is "excessive in relation to [that] purpose." See

Jones, 393 F.3d at 932. Accordingly, with respect to these four petitioners, the Court 

finds a clear showing has been made that they are likely to succeed on the merits of their 

Fifth Amendment claim.

Next, with respect to the question of whether petitioners have shown a likelihood 

of irreparable harm, the Court first notes the virus, as explained by the CDC, "is thought 

to spread mainly from person-to-person, through respiratory droplets produced when an 

infected person coughs or sneezes," and that such "droplets can land in the mouths or 

noses of people who are nearby or be launched into the air and inhaled into someone's 

lungs." See www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/correctiondetention/faq.html. Further, the Court finds petitioners have shown Medina Calderon, 

Lavrus, Joseph, and Solorio Lopez cannot meaningfully, if in any manner, adhere to the 

5There is no evidence Mesa Verde conducts temperature checks of detainees, 

other than one initially at "intake." (See Moon Decl. ¶ 18.)

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advice the country's health officials, including those at the CDC, have repeatedly given to 

all persons in the United States as to how to avoid becoming infected with COVID-19, 

specifically, to engage at all times in social distancing, to use protective equipment such 

as masks, gloves, or other coverings when in close contact with others, and to frequently 

wash or otherwise sanitize one's hands.

Under such circumstances, the Court finds petitioners have made a sufficient 

showing that Medina Calderon, Lavrus, Joseph, and Solorio Lopez, as persons at high 

risk of severe illness or death if infected with COVID-19, are likely to incur irreparable 

injury in the absence of any relief from their present conditions of confinement.

The Court next finds the balance of hardships tips in favor of Medina Calderon, 

Lavrus, Joseph, and Solorio Lopez. As noted, none of these petitioners is in a position to 

meaningfully limit his exposure to COVID-19 while at Yuba or Mesa Verde. Although 

respondents may have concerns about flight risk or other matters,

6

the Court intends to 

address those issues by imposing reasonable conditions upon release, as discussed 

below.

Lastly, the Court finds, under the highly unusual circumstances presented, i.e., a 

global pandemic of a type not seen within recent memory, the public interest is served by 

the requested injunction. Specifically, the public interest in promoting public health is 

served by efforts to contain the further spread of COVID-19, particularly in detention 

centers, which typically are staffed by numerous individuals who reside in nearby 

communities.

Accordingly, the Court will grant the motion to the extent it is brought on behalf of 

Medina Calderon, Lavrus, Joseph, and Solorio Lopez.

//

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6To date, respondents have not identified any concern specific to any of these four 

individuals.

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The Court will not, however, order any such petitioner to be released without 

reasonable conditions, and, as to each such petitioner, will include the following 

conditions in its order of release:

(1) Petitioner is to reside and shelter in place at an address to be specified in said 

order.7

(2) Petitioner shall be transported by a person to be specified in said order from 

his place of detention to the residence where he will reside and shelter in place.8

(3) Pending further order of the Court, petitioner shall not leave the residence 

where he will shelter in place, except to obtain medical care, to appear at immigration 

court proceedings, or to obey any order issued by the Department of Homeland Security.

(4) Petitioner shall not violate any federal, state, or local law.

In addition, the Court will direct the parties' respective counsel to meet and confer, 

by email, telephone, or other means, and to propose, in a joint statement any additional 

reasonable conditions.

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7The address for each petitioner is to be provided by petitioners' counsel.

8The name of the transporter of each petitioner is to be provided by petitioners' 

counsel.

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CONCLUSION

For the reasons stated, petitioners' motion is hereby GRANTED in part and 

DENIED in part, as follows:9

1. To the extent the motion is brought on behalf of petitioners Sofia Bahena 

Ortuño and Roxana del Carmen Trigueros Acevedo, the motion is DENIED as moot.

2. To the extent the motion is brought on behalf of petitioners Ricardo Vasquez 

Cruz, Ernesto Abroncio Uc Encarnacion, Julio Cesar Buendia Alas, and Marco Montoya 

Amaya, the motion is DENIED.

3. To the extent the motion is brought on behalf of petitioners Salomon Medina 

Calderon, Gennady V. Lavrus, Charles Joseph, and J Elias Solorio Lopez, the motion is 

hereby GRANTED, and said petitioners shall be released upon issuance of an order 

setting conditions of release. The parties' respective counsel are hereby DIRECTED to 

meet and confer forthwith and to propose, in a joint statement to be filed no later than 

April 10, 2020, at 11:00 a.m., any additional reasonable conditions.

4. Respondents are hereby DIRECTED to show cause, no later than April 22, 

2020, why, as to Salomon Medina Calderon, Gennady V. Lavrus, Charles Joseph, and J 

Elias Solorio Lopez, a preliminary injunction should not issue. Petitioners' reply shall be 

filed no later than seven days after any such response is filed. As of the date the reply is 

filed, the Court, unless the parties are otherwise advised, will take the matter under 

submission.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 8, 2020

MAXINE M. CHESNEY

United States District Judge

9As noted in the Court's order of April 3, 2020, the Court has deferred ruling on the 

motion to the extent it is brought on behalf of Olvin Said Torres Murillo and Mauricio 

Ernesto Quinteros Lopez. To such extent, the motion remains pending.

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