Case: Gutierrez-Contreras v. Warden

5:25-cv-00965 | U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

Filed Date: April 20, 2025

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This case is one of several lawsuits challenging the Trump administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act (AEA), 50 U.S.C. §21, to detain and deport noncitizens without due process. You can see all of the cases here. In March 2025, President Trump issued Proclamation No. 10903, 90 Fed. Reg. 13034, invoking AEA to detain and remove Venezuelan nationals "who are members of TdA [a gang, Tren de Aragua]”  In J.G.G. v. Trump, twelve detainees and a putative class sought injunctive and declaratory rel…

This case is one of several lawsuits challenging the Trump administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act (AEA), 50 U.S.C. §21, to detain and deport noncitizens without due process. You can see all of the cases here.

In March 2025, President Trump issued Proclamation No. 10903, 90 Fed. Reg. 13034, invoking AEA to detain and remove Venezuelan nationals "who are members of TdA [a gang, Tren de Aragua]”  In J.G.G. v. Trump, twelve detainees and a putative class sought injunctive and declaratory relief against their removal under the AEA, in a the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.  The resulting Temporary Restraining Orders were, however, reversed by the Supreme Court, which ruled that the right method for the Venezuelans to proceed was by filing a habeas petition in the district in which they were being held--not by class action in DC.  The Court held that "AEA detainees must receive notice after the date of this order that they are subject to removal under the Act.  The notice must be afforded within a reasonable time and in such a manner as will allow them to actually seek habeas relief in the proper venue before such removal occurs."  

On April 20, 2025, a Venezuelan national filed a second petition for writ for habeas corpus in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. He challenged his detention and threatened deportation without due process pursuant to the AEA, alleging that the Trump administration’s use of the AEA violated due process, and sought a temporary restraining order (TRO). The case was assigned to Judge Sunshine Susan Sykes. 

Public defenders filed the initial habeas petition when the government transported the petitioner from the Desert View Annex, Immigration Facility in Adelanto, California, to the Bluebonnet Detention Center in Anson, Texas and threatened to deport him to El Salvador.  Petitioner had ongoing Section 1229(a) immigration proceedings with an immigration judge in California at the time and no removal order had been issued. The government returned turned the petitioner to California after a short period. This raised an issue over the proper venue. The petitioner filed the second habeas petition in the midst of this confusion. The first docket number was 5:25-cv-911.

On April 25, Judge Sykes affirmed her jurisdiction over the case and issued a temporary restraining order that was valid until May 10.  On May 9, petitioner filed a motion to convert the temporary restraining order into a preliminary injunction, and on May 14, Judge Sykes issued a preliminary injunction, barring removal of the petitioner from the Central District or from the United States under the AEA, requiring at least 14 days' notice to petitioner and his counsel of intent to remove under the AEA, and ordering a status report following petitioner's next hearing in his Title 8 removal proceeding. 

On July 14, the government appealed the injunction to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.

This case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Catherine Grosso (5/1/2025)

Scott Shuchart (5/23/2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69917530/parties/yostin-sleiker-gutierrez-contreras-v-warden/


show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

5:25-cv-00965

Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus

Yostin Sleiker Gutierrez-Contreras v. Warden

April 20, 2025

April 20, 2025

Complaint
11

5:25-cv-00965

Order Granting Petition for Temporary Restraining Order as to Notice Prior to Any Removal Under the Alien Enemies Act

Yostin Sleiker Gutierrez-Contreras v. Warden

April 25, 2025

April 25, 2025

Order/Opinion
24

5:25-cv-00965

(In Chambers) Order (1) Issuing Preliminary Injunction Requiring Fourteen-Day Notice Prior to Any Removal Under the Alien Enemies Act and (2) Denying Application

May 14, 2025

May 14, 2025

Order/Opinion

2025 WL 1400398

Resources

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69917530/yostin-sleiker-gutierrez-contreras-v-warden/

Last updated Aug. 21, 2025, 7:11 p.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

PETITION for Writ of Habeas Corpus by a Person in Federal Custody (28 USC 2241),, filed by Petitioner Yostin Sleiker Gutierrez-Contreras. (Attorney David Lee Menninger added to party Yostin Sleiker Gutierrez-Contreras(pty:pet))(Menninger, David) (Entered: 04/20/2025)

April 20, 2025

April 20, 2025

Clearinghouse
2

CIVIL COVER SHEET filed by Petitioner Yostin Sleiker Gutierrez-Contreras. (Menninger, David) (Entered: 04/20/2025)

April 20, 2025

April 20, 2025

PACER
3

NOTICE of Related Case(s) filed by Petitioner Yostin Sleiker Gutierrez-Contreras. Related Case(s): 5:25-cv-911 (Menninger, David) (Entered: 04/20/2025)

April 20, 2025

April 20, 2025

PACER
4

Notice of Appearance or Withdrawal of Counsel: for attorney Chad J. Pennington counsel for Petitioner Yostin Sleiker Gutierrez-Contreras. Adding Chad Pennington as counsel of record for Yostin Sleiker Gutierrez-Contreras for the reason indicated in the G-123 Notice. Filed by Petitioner Yostin Sleiker Gutierrez-Contreras. (Attorney Chad J. Pennington added to party Yostin Sleiker Gutierrez-Contreras(pty:pet))(Pennington, Chad) (Entered: 04/21/2025)

April 21, 2025

April 21, 2025

PACER
5

FINANCIAL ENTRY: Received $5.00 into the registry of the Court from Federal Public Defenders Office. Re: Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus 1 . Receipt number 30130. (gsa) (Entered: 04/21/2025)

April 21, 2025

April 21, 2025

PACER
6

PETITION for Temporary Restraining Order as to Notice Prior To Any Removal Under the Alien Enemies Act filed by Petitioner Yostin Sleiker Gutierrez-Contreras. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order) (Pennington, Chad) (Entered: 04/21/2025)

April 21, 2025

April 21, 2025

PACER
7

NOTICE OF REFERENCE to a U.S. Magistrate Judge. This case has been assigned to the calendar of the Honorable District Judge Sunshine Suzanne Sykes and referred to Magistrate Judge Karen E. Scott, who is authorized to consider preliminary matters and conduct all further hearings as may be appropriate or necessary. Pursuant to Local Rule 83-2.4, the Court must be notified within five (5) days of any address change. See notice for additional details. (car) (Entered: 04/21/2025)

April 21, 2025

April 21, 2025

PACER

Financial Entry

April 21, 2025

April 21, 2025

PACER
8

MINUTE ORDER IN CHAMBERS by Judge Sunshine Suzanne Sykes: ORDER REQUIRING RESPONSE TO HABEAS PETITION AND PETITION FOR TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER BY APRIL 24 AT NOON. All parties are required to attend the hearing in person and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is DIRECTED to transport Petitioner Yostin Sleiker Gutierrez-Contreras to the courtroom and ensure his presence at the hearing. ( TRO set for hearing on 4/25/2025 at 10:00 AM before Judge Sunshine Suzanne Sykes.) SEE DOCUMENT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. (twdb) (Entered: 04/22/2025)

April 22, 2025

April 22, 2025

PACER
9

SCHEDULING NOTICE AND ORDER by Judge Sunshine Suzanne Sykes: The Court hereby ADVANCES the hearing on Petitioner's Petition for Temporary Restraining Order [Dkt. 6 ], from April 25, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., to April 25, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. All parties are required to attend the hearing in person and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is DIRECTED to transport Petitioner Yostin Sleiker Gutierrez-Contreras to the courtroom and ensure his presence at the hearing. IT IS SO ORDERED. THERE IS NO PDF DOCUMENT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ENTRY. (iva) TEXT ONLY ENTRY (Entered: 04/22/2025)

April 22, 2025

April 22, 2025

PACER

Text Only Scheduling Notice

April 22, 2025

April 22, 2025

PACER
10

OPPOSITION re: PETITION for Temporary Restraining Order as to Notice Prior To Any Removal Under the Alien Enemies Act 6 filed by Respondents Pam Bondi, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem, Andre Quinones, Donald J. Trump, Warden. (Attorney Christina Alejandra Marquez added to party Pam Bondi(pty:res), Attorney Christina Alejandra Marquez added to party Todd M. Lyons(pty:res), Attorney Christina Alejandra Marquez added to party Kristi Noem(pty:res), Attorney Christina Alejandra Marquez added to party Andre Quinones(pty:res), Attorney Christina Alejandra Marquez added to party Donald J. Trump(pty:res), Attorney Christina Alejandra Marquez added to party Warden(pty:res))(Marquez, Christina) (Entered: 04/24/2025)

April 24, 2025

April 24, 2025

PACER
11

(IN CHAMBERS) ORDER GRANTING PETITION FOR TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER AS TO NOTICE PRIOR TO ANY REMOVAL UNDER THE ALIEN ENEMIES ACT [DKT. 6 ] by Judge Sunshine Suzanne Sykes: This Order shall be in effect until May 10, 2025. The Court ORDERS Respondents TO SHOW CAUSE as to why a preliminary injunction should not issue. Respondents shall file any response by Friday May 2, 2025, and Plaintiff shall file any reply by noon on Wednesday May 7, 2025. The Court SETS a hearing in person on whether a preliminary injunction should issue on May 9, 2025, at 1 P.M. in Courtroom 2, on the 2nd Floor of the George E. Brown, Jr. Federal Building and United States Courthouse at 3470 Twelfth Street, Riverside, California 92501. (iva) (Entered: 04/25/2025)

April 25, 2025

April 25, 2025

Clearinghouse
12

MINUTES OF: GOVERNMENT'S MOTION TO DISSOLVE TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER (DKT. 12 ) AND HEARING ON PETITION FOR TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER [DKT. 6 before Judge Sunshine Suzanne Sykes: Orders pertaining to the motion and petition shall be issued in short order. Court Reporter: Myra Ponce. (twdb) (Entered: 04/28/2025)

April 25, 2025

April 25, 2025

PACER

Temporary Restraining Order

April 25, 2025

April 25, 2025

PACER
13

EX PARTE APPLICATION for Appointment of Counsel filed by Petitioner Yostin Sleiker Gutierrez-Contreras. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order) (Menninger, David) (Entered: 04/29/2025)

April 29, 2025

April 29, 2025

PACER
14

MINUTES (IN CHAMBERS) by Judge Sunshine Suzanne Sykes: ORDER GRANTING EX PARTE APPLICATION FOR APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL (DKT. 13 ). SEE DOCUMENT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. (twdb) (Entered: 04/30/2025)

April 30, 2025

April 30, 2025

RECAP
15

BRIEF filed by Respondent Pam Bondi, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem, Andre Quinones, Donald J. Trump, Warden. in Opposition to the Issuance of a Preliminary Injunction regarding Order on Motion for Temporary Restraining Order,, 11 . (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A to C)(Marquez, Christina) (Entered: 05/02/2025)

May 2, 2025

May 2, 2025

PACER
16

APPLICATION to file document Declaration under seal filed by Respondents Pam Bondi, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem, Andre Quinones, Donald J. Trump, Warden. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order, # 2 Redacted Document)(Marquez, Christina) (Entered: 05/02/2025)

May 2, 2025

May 2, 2025

PACER
17

SEALED DECLARATION IN SUPPORT OF APPLICATION to file document Declaration under seal 16 filed by Respondents Pam Bondi, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem, Andre Quinones, Donald J. Trump, Warden. (Attachments: # 1 Unredacted Document, # 2 Proof of Service)(Marquez, Christina) (Entered: 05/02/2025)

May 2, 2025

May 2, 2025

PACER
18

EXHIBIT Filed filed by Respondents Pam Bondi, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem, Andre Quinones, Donald J. Trump, Warden. to Jackson Lara Declaration as to APPLICATION to file document Declaration under seal 16 . (Marquez, Christina) (Entered: 05/05/2025)

May 5, 2025

May 5, 2025

PACER
19

SCHEDULING NOTICE AND ORDER by Judge Sunshine Suzanne Sykes: Pursuant to the Court's (In Chambers) Order, issued on April 25, 2025, a in-person hearing on whether a preliminary injunction should issue has been scheduled for Friday, May 9, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. All parties are required to attend the hearing in person and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is DIRECTED to transport Petitioner Yostin Sleiker Gutierrez-Contreras to the courtroom and ensure his presence at the hearing. IT IS SO ORDERED. THERE IS NO PDF DOCUMENT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ENTRY. (iva) TEXT ONLY ENTRY (Entered: 05/05/2025)

May 5, 2025

May 5, 2025

PACER

Generic Text Only Entry

May 5, 2025

May 5, 2025

PACER
20

OPPOSITION to Respondent's Request to Seal re: APPLICATION to file document Declaration under seal 16 filed by Petitioner Yostin Sleiker Gutierrez-Contreras. (Pennington, Chad) (Entered: 05/06/2025)

May 6, 2025

May 6, 2025

PACER
21

First PETITION for Preliminary Injunction re prohibiting expulsion under the AEA without the requested notice and prohibiting transfer from the Central District of California filed by petitioner Yostin Sleiker Gutierrez-Contreras. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order) (Pennington, Chad) (Entered: 05/07/2025)

May 7, 2025

May 7, 2025

PACER
22

MINUTES OF Show Cause Hearing held before Judge Sunshine Suzanne Sykes: ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE HEARING AS TO WHY A PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION SHOULD NOT BE ISSUED. The parties shall file this information no later than Tuesday, May 13, 2025. The parties are further directed to file a joint report within 7 days from Petitioner's upcoming Title 8 proceeding with information as to the outcome of that proceeding and the intention of both parties in this case. Court Reporter: RS-CS-2. (twdb) (Entered: 05/13/2025)

May 9, 2025

May 9, 2025

PACER
23

NOTICE OF LODGING filed JOINT SUBMISSION OF PROPOSED PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION re Show Cause Hearing - optional html form,, 22 (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Menninger, David) (Entered: 05/13/2025)

May 13, 2025

May 13, 2025

PACER
24

MINUTES (IN CHAMBERS) by Judge Sunshine Suzanne Sykes: ORDER (1) ISSUING PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION REQUIRING FOURTEEN-DAY NOTICE PRIOR TO ANY REMOVAL UNDER THE ALIEN ENEMIES ACT [Dkt. 21] AND (2) DENYING APPLICATION [Dkt. 16], 21, 16 . SEE DOCUMENT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. (twdb) (Entered: 05/14/2025)

May 14, 2025

May 14, 2025

Clearinghouse
25

MINUTE ORDER IN CHAMBERS by Judge Sunshine Suzanne Sykes: ORDER REQUESTING BRIEFING SCHEDULE. The parties are hereby DIRECTED to meet and confer to provide the Court with a briefing schedule by June 6, 2025. (twdb) (Entered: 05/21/2025)

May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025

RECAP
26

STIPULATION for Order CONTINUING DEADLINE FOR BRIEFING SCHEDULE filed by Petitioner Yostin Sleiker Gutierrez-Contreras. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Menninger, David) (Entered: 06/04/2025)

June 4, 2025

June 4, 2025

PACER
27

ORDER CONTINUING DEADLINE FOR BRIEFING SCHEDULE by Judge Sunshine Suzanne Sykes 26 . This Court hereby continues the deadline for the parties to submit a proposed briefing schedule to July 7, 2025. The parties shall also submit by that date a status report regarding Petitioner's immigration court proceedings. (twdb) (Entered: 06/05/2025)

June 5, 2025

June 5, 2025

RECAP
28

STIPULATION to Continue Order for Briefing Schedule from July 7, 2025 to August 7, 2025 filed by Petitioner Yostin Sleiker Gutierrez-Contreras. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Pennington, Chad) (Entered: 07/07/2025)

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

PACER
29

ORDER CONTINUING DEADLINE FOR BRIEFING SCHEDULE by Judge Sunshine Suzanne Sykes 28 . This Court hereby continues the deadline for the parties to submit a proposed briefing schedule to August 7, 2025. The parties shall also submit by that date a status report regarding Petitioner's immigration court proceedings. (twdb) (Entered: 07/09/2025)

July 9, 2025

July 9, 2025

PACER
30

NOTICE OF APPEAL to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals filed by Respondents Pam Bondi, Todd M. Lyons, Kristi Noem, Andre Quinones, Donald J. Trump, Warden. Appeal of Order on Motion for Leave to File Document Under Seal,, Order on Motion for Preliminary Injunction, 24 . (Appeal Fee - Not Required for US Goverment.) (Marquez, Christina) (Entered: 07/14/2025)

July 14, 2025

July 14, 2025

PACER
31

Attorney Appearance or Reassignment for the Federal Public Defenders Office

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

PACER
32

USCA Notification of Case Number

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

PACER
33

Order

Aug. 7, 2025

Aug. 7, 2025

PACER
34

Order

Aug. 11, 2025

Aug. 11, 2025

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory: California

Case Type(s):

Immigration and/or the Border

Special Collection(s):

Trump 1.0 & 2.0 Immigration Enforcement Order Challenges

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government (Immigration Enforcement)

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government (Alien Enemies Act)

Key Dates

Filing Date: April 20, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

A Venezuelan national who was being detained and threatened with removed from the U.S. under the Alien Enemies Act.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

U.S. Department of Justice (- United States (national) -), Federal

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (- United States (national) -), Federal

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (- United States (national) -), Federal

Donald J. Trump (- United States (national) -), Federal

Defendant Type(s):

Law-enforcement

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Habeas Corpus, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2241-2253; 2254; 2255

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process: Procedural Due Process

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Nature of Relief:

Preliminary injunction / Temp. restraining order

Source of Relief:

Litigation

Content of Injunction:

Preliminary relief granted

Removal/deportation barred

Order Duration: 2025 - None

Issues

Immigration/Border:

Deportation - judicial review

Deportation - procedure