Martha De la Mercedes Leon-Mora had filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus challenging her immigration detention. The court previously granted her petition in part on her unlawful detention claim and ordered her release from custody on March 11, 2026, but left open her remaining claims in Counts I, II, and III.
U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña noted that nearly four weeks had passed without any response from Leon-Mora despite the court's warning that it 'may dismiss her additional claims if she failed to respond.' The judge dismissed the remaining claims 'without prejudice to refiling,' meaning Leon-Mora could potentially bring them again in the future.
The court had initially granted Leon-Mora's petition in part on March 10, 2026, specifically on her unlawful detention claim in Count IV. Following her release, the court gave her three weeks to indicate whether she wanted to pursue her other claims given that she had already obtained her primary relief of release from detention.
The dismissal reflects a common outcome in immigration habeas cases where detainees obtain their main goal of release but fail to follow through on ancillary claims. The court directed the clerk to mail copies of the order to Leon-Mora's Irving, Texas address and email her next friend, suggesting ongoing efforts to ensure proper notice despite her apparent disengagement from the case.