Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_20-cv-01102/USCOURTS-azd-2_20-cv-01102-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
William Barr
Respondent
Albert Carter
Respondent
Jason Ciliberti
Respondent
Francisco Corral
Petitioner
Chris Howard
Respondent
Cesar Topete
Respondent
Chad Wolf
Respondent

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WO

MW

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Francisco Corral,

Petitioner,

v. 

Chris Howard, et al.,

Respondents.

No. CV-20-00955-PHX-MTL (MTM)

ORDER

Petitioner Francisco Corral (A# 028-717-956), who is detained in the CoreCivic La 

Palma Correctional Center, has filed, through counsel, a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus 

under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 and Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief (Doc. 1).

I. Background

Petitioner is a native and citizen of Mexico. On October 17, 2019, he sought 

admission into the United States at the port of entry in Nogales, Arizona, and was 

subsequently taken into custody by the United States Department of Homeland Security 

(“DHS”) and detained in the CoreCivic La Palma Correctional Center in Eloy, Arizona. 

(Doc. 2-4 at 4-22.) Petitioner expressed a fear of persecution or torture if returned to 

Mexico and was referred for a credible fear determination. (Id.) Following an interview, 

an asylum officer found Petitioner had established a credible fear of persecution or torture 

if removed to Mexico, and Petitioner was referred for removal proceedings before an 

Immigration Judge. (Id.) On March 3, 2020, the Immigration Judge ordered Petitioner 

removed from the United States and denied his applications for relief. (Id. at 34-35.) 

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Petitioner appealed the decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals, which remains 

currently pending. (Id. at 36-41.)

Petitioner suffers from diabetes, which he states places him at a higher risk of severe 

illness should he contract COVID-19. On April 24, 2020, he submitted a request to United 

States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) seeking his release from custody 

on humanitarian parole due to the potential health risks associated with the spread of 

COVID-19 in his detention facility. (Doc. 2-4 at 53-55.) Petitioner has not yet received a 

response to his request.

II. Petition

In his Petition, Petitioner names La Palma Correctional Center Warden Chris 

Howard, Acting ICE Phoenix Field Office Director Albert Carter, ICE Phoenix Field 

Office Assistant Director Cesar Topete, ICE Phoenix Field Office Assistant Director Jason 

Ciliberti, Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf, and United States Attorney General William 

Barr as Respondents. Petitioner brings four grounds for relief.

In Ground One, Petitioner claims that his continued detention violates the Due 

Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment because Respondents have affirmatively placed 

him in danger by detaining him in conditions that risk his exposure to COVID-19 and have 

acted with deliberate indifference to that known and obvious danger.

In Ground Two, Petitioner claims that his continued detention violates the Due 

Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment because Respondents, who have a “special 

relationship” with Petitioner that requires Respondents to provide him with reasonable 

medical care and safety, have detained Petitioner in conditions that put him at substantial 

risk of exposure to COVID-19 and suffering serious harm.

In Ground Three, Petitioner claims that his continued detention violates the Due 

Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment because the conditions under which he is detained 

amount to punishment. 

In Ground Four, Petitioner claims that his prolonged detention without a custody 

redetermination hearing before an immigration judge violates his rights under the Due 

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Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. 

Petitioner asks the Court to: (1) issue a writ of habeas corpus ordering his immediate 

release from detention or, in the alternative, issue an injunctive order immediately 

enjoining Respondents from detaining him; (2) alternatively, order his release from DHS 

custody unless Respondents schedule a hearing before an immigration judge where, to

continue his detention, the government must establish by clear and convincing evidence

that Petitioner presents a risk of flight or danger, taking into account available alternatives 

to detention; (3) declare that his continued detention violates the Due Process Clause; 

(4) award reasonable costs and attorney’s fees pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act; 

and (5) grant any other and further relief that the Court deems just and proper.

III. Severance and Answer

Grounds One through Three of the Petition, which challenge Petitioner’s continued 

detention due to potential health risks associated with COVID-19, require briefing on an 

accelerated track and are distinct from, and independent of, Ground Four of the Petition, 

which challenges Petitioner’s prolonged detention without a custody redetermination

hearing before an Immigration Judge. As a matter of administrative efficiency, the Court 

will sever Ground Four of the Petition and will instruct the Clerk of Court to open a new 

separate action for the adjudication of that claim. 

Accordingly, the Court will require Respondents Howard, Carter, Topete, Ciliberti, 

Wolf, and Barr to file an answer in this action to Grounds One through Three of the 

Petition. 

IT IS ORDERED:

(1) This case is severed into two individual actions, one for Grounds One 

through Three of the Petition (this action), and one for Ground Four of the Petition.

(2) The Clerk of Court must open a new action and file a copy of the Petition 

(Doc. 1), the Declaration and supporting exhibits (Doc. 2), and this Order in the new case.

(3) The Clerk of Court shall serve: (1) a copy of the Summons, (2) the Petition 

for Writ of Habeas Corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 and Complaint for Declaratory and 

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Injunctive Relief, (3) the Declaration and supporting exhibits (Doc. 2), and (4) this Order 

upon the United States Attorney for the District of Arizona by certified mail addressed to 

the civil process clerk at the office of the United States Attorney pursuant to Rule 4(i)(1)(A) 

of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The Clerk of Court shall also send by certified 

mail a copy of the Summons, the Petition, the Declaration, and this Order to the United 

States Attorney General pursuant to Rule 4(i)(1)(B) and to Respondents Howard, Carter, 

Topete, Ciliberti, Wolf, and Barr pursuant to Rule 4(i)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil 

Procedure.

(4) Respondents Howard, Carter, Topete, Ciliberti, Wolf, and Barr shall have 14 

days from the filing date of this Order to answer Grounds One through Three of the 

Petition. Respondents shall not file a dispositive motion in place of an answer absent leave 

of Court.

(5) Petitioner shall have 7 days from the filing of Respondents’ Answer to the 

Petition to file a Reply. 

(6) Petitioner must immediately file a “Notice of Change in Status” if there is

any material change in Petitioner’s immigration or custody status. Any request for relief 

must be made by separate motion and may not be included in the Notice.

(7) The Clerk of Court shall email a copy of this Order to the United States 

Attorney for the District of Arizona, to the attention of Peter M. Lantka at 

peter.lantka@usdoj.gov and Mary Finlon at mary.finlon@usdoj.gov. 

Dated this 3rd day of June, 2020.

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