Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_16-cv-02849/USCOURTS-cand-4_16-cv-02849-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 463
Nature of Suit: Habeas Corpus - Alien Detainee
Cause of Action: 28:2241 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

VICTOR OSTAPENKO,

Petitioner,

v.

ATTORNEY GENERAL,

Respondent.

Case No. 16-cv-02849-HSG (PR) 

ORDER OF TRANSFER

Victor Ostapenko has filed a habeas petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 to challenge the 

legality of his custody by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”), pending his 

removal from the United States. He is being detained at the Etowah County Detention Center in

Gadsden, Alabama.

Generally, 28 U.S.C. § 2241 is the proper basis for a habeas petition by a state prisoner 

who is not held “pursuant to the judgment of a State court,” 28 U.S.C. § 2254, for instance a pretrial detainee, a prisoner awaiting extradition, or a prisoner whose conviction has been reversed on 

appeal. See Walker v. O’Brien, 216 F.3d 626, 633 (7th Cir. 2000) (listing “pre-conviction 

custody, custody awaiting extradition, or other forms of custody that are possible without a 

conviction” as examples of when Section 2241 applies). Section 2241 is the proper basis for the 

instant petition because petitioner is challenging his detention pending removal. 

The petition must be transferred because jurisdiction does not lie in this district. Section 

2241 allows “the Supreme Court, any justice thereof, the district courts and any circuit judge” to 

grant writs of habeas corpus “within their respective jurisdictions.” 28 U.S.C. § 2241(a). The 

Supreme Court has interpreted the “within their respective jurisdiction” language to mean that a 

Section 2241 petitioner challenging his present physical custody must file a petition for a writ of 

habeas corpus in the district of confinement. Rumsfeld v. Padilla, 542 U.S. 426, 446-47 (2004).

Case 4:16-cv-02849-HSG Document 6 Filed 06/29/16 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

Etowah County is located within the venue of the Northern District of Alabama. This case 

is therefore TRANSFERRED to the United States District Court for the Northern District of 

Alabama. See 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a).

The Clerk shall transfer this matter forthwith.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated:

HAYWOOD S. GILLIAM, JR.

United States District Judge

6/29/2016

Case 4:16-cv-02849-HSG Document 6 Filed 06/29/16 Page 2 of 2