Celestino Adelso Calderon Rodas was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on February 21, 2026, as he was leaving his home to go to work. Calderon Rodas, who entered the United States by crossing the border in October 2014, alleged in his petition that ICE detained him without any warning, paperwork, or legitimate reason. He sought immediate release and attorney's fees.
Judge Drozd relied on his reasoning from two recent cases, Quichimbo-Jimenez v. Warden and Cardenas v. Chestnut, to grant the petition. The government conceded that they "agree that the factual and legal issues present here are not substantively distinguishable from such cases," according to court filings. The judge ordered that respondents cannot re-detain Calderon Rodas "absent exigent circumstances, without providing petitioner notice and a pre-detention hearing before an immigration judge."
Calderon Rodas filed his petition on April 1, 2026, along with a motion for a temporary restraining order. The court set a briefing schedule and specifically asked the government to address whether the case could be distinguished from the two recent precedents. Respondents filed their opposition the next day, essentially conceding the case.
The ruling continues a pattern of successful habeas challenges to ICE detention in the Eastern District of California. Judge Drozd denied Calderon Rodas's request for attorney's fees without prejudice, allowing him to file a properly supported motion later. The court also directed the clerk to enter judgment and close the case.