Cases · No-bond detention for people who entered without inspection
Cunha v. Freden
Latest development
Supreme Court granted review of mandatory-detention split
Certiorari is granted. The October 28 order extends merits briefing; the reviewed docket contains no merits decision or argument setting.
- Status as of
- October 28, 2026
- Source
- Latest order
- Docket reviewed through
- November 2, 2026
About the case
The Second Circuit held that section 1226(a) governs the detention at issue rather than section 1225(b)(2). The Supreme Court granted the government's petition in Rhoney v. Barbosa da Cunha, No. 26-104, to decide whether section 1225(b)(2)(A) mandates detention pending removal proceedings for noncitizens present without admission. On October 28, the Court extended merits briefing: the joint appendix and petitioner’s brief are due November 30, 2026; the respondent’s brief is due January 13, 2027.
Relief
The petitioner sought habeas relief requiring treatment under section 1226(a) so that an immigration judge could consider release on bond rather than mandatory detention.
What's next
Joint appendix and government’s merits brief due November 30, 2026; respondent’s brief due January 13, 2027. Await an argument setting.
New on the docket, not yet reviewed
Nothing new since the last review.
Reviewed events
Supreme Court extended mandatory-detention merits briefing
Cunha v. Freden · 2d Cir. · Source
Supreme Court granted review of mandatory-detention split
Cunha v. Freden · 2d Cir. · Source
Second Circuit denied rehearing en banc in mandatory-detention case
Cunha v. Freden · 2d Cir. · Source
Supreme Court distributed Second Circuit detention petition for conference
Cunha v. Freden · 2d Cir. · Source
Government sought Supreme Court review of Second Circuit mandatory-detention ruling
Cunha v. Freden · 2d Cir. · Source
Second Circuit rejected no-bond mandatory detention for long-time interior arrestees
Cunha v. Freden · 2d Cir. · Source
In the news
- Associated Press coverage of the Second Circuit rulingAssociated Press · Apr 28, 2026
- ACLU statement on the Second Circuit mandatory-detention rulingAmerican Civil Liberties Union · Apr 28, 2026
- American Immigration Council and AILA mandatory-detention amicus pageAmerican Immigration Council · Jan 29, 2026