John Hawkinson
@johnhawkinson.bsky.social
Cambridge, MA freelance reporter, usually for @CambridgeDay.
MIT; public recs; data; legal news
Lately: immigration.
[email protected]
617.797.0250
MIT; public recs; data; legal news
Lately: immigration.
[email protected]
617.797.0250
Pinned
Coming up in a few moments, the hastily-scheduled 11am hearing in Guerrero Orellana v. Moniz, about IJs ignoring Judge Saris's declaratory judgment that bond hearings are required for detained aliens.
OK, so, it looks like there is a problem in the Guerrero Orellana class action litigation about mandatory immigration detention and denial of bond hearings.
There was a status conference earlier this week where plaintiffs said ICE appeared to be complying, but now they have changed their tune.
There was a status conference earlier this week where plaintiffs said ICE appeared to be complying, but now they have changed their tune.
Summary:
Judge Saris wants a new notice to detainees to explain they have habeas options after IJs deny bond.
She is not sanguine about setting aside Hurtado under the APA because she thinks it'll take her a month.
She'd like to see appellate or even Supreme Court review much faster.
Judge Saris wants a new notice to detainees to explain they have habeas options after IJs deny bond.
She is not sanguine about setting aside Hurtado under the APA because she thinks it'll take her a month.
She'd like to see appellate or even Supreme Court review much faster.
The Knight Foundation filed a mandamus petition in the 11th circuit (arising from the '80101 US v. Trump) and…nobody is posting a link to it? The RECAP docket is missing the petition:
www.courtlistener.com/docket/72289...
lso from the district court:
www.courtlistener.com/docket/67490... (&c.)
?
www.courtlistener.com/docket/72289...
lso from the district court:
www.courtlistener.com/docket/67490... (&c.)
?
Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia Uni, 26-10503 - CourtListener.com
Docket for Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia Uni, 26-10503 — Brought to you by Free Law Project, a non-profit dedicated to creating high quality open legal information.
www.courtlistener.com
February 18, 2026 at 3:30 AM
The Knight Foundation filed a mandamus petition in the 11th circuit (arising from the '80101 US v. Trump) and…nobody is posting a link to it? The RECAP docket is missing the petition:
www.courtlistener.com/docket/72289...
lso from the district court:
www.courtlistener.com/docket/67490... (&c.)
?
www.courtlistener.com/docket/72289...
lso from the district court:
www.courtlistener.com/docket/67490... (&c.)
?
AUSA Anuj Khetarpal, D. Mass, who has been handling quite a few of the mandatory detention habeas cases (including the Guerrero Orellana class action case before Judge Saris) is calling it quits at the end of the month.
February 17, 2026 at 9:40 PM
AUSA Anuj Khetarpal, D. Mass, who has been handling quite a few of the mandatory detention habeas cases (including the Guerrero Orellana class action case before Judge Saris) is calling it quits at the end of the month.
Mohsen Mahdawi gets the same kind of victory in immigraiton court as Rümeysa Öztürk!
28(j) letter and IJ's decision here: www.documentcloud.org/documents/27...
28(j) letter and IJ's decision here: www.documentcloud.org/documents/27...
February 17, 2026 at 8:51 PM
Mohsen Mahdawi gets the same kind of victory in immigraiton court as Rümeysa Öztürk!
28(j) letter and IJ's decision here: www.documentcloud.org/documents/27...
28(j) letter and IJ's decision here: www.documentcloud.org/documents/27...
Marc Levy launches the Cambridge/Somerville Independent (csindie.com).
February 16, 2026 at 10:25 PM
Marc Levy launches the Cambridge/Somerville Independent (csindie.com).
Reposted by John Hawkinson
The immigration judge’s ruling, dismissing the govt’s attempt to remove Rumeysa Ozturk, has now been made public. Tbh, it’s not simple. 1st, the IJ seems to, in effect, follow district court rulings finding that the revocation was unconstitutional. ...
1/3
www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
1/3
www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
February 11, 2026 at 1:04 AM
The immigration judge’s ruling, dismissing the govt’s attempt to remove Rumeysa Ozturk, has now been made public. Tbh, it’s not simple. 1st, the IJ seems to, in effect, follow district court rulings finding that the revocation was unconstitutional. ...
1/3
www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
1/3
www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
Yesterday, apparently, we learn Elianis Perez is out as Assistant Director of DOJ's Office of Immigration Litigation.
"Undersigned counsel will no longer be employed by the U.S. Department of Justice"
"Undersigned counsel will no longer be employed by the U.S. Department of Justice"
February 10, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Yesterday, apparently, we learn Elianis Perez is out as Assistant Director of DOJ's Office of Immigration Litigation.
"Undersigned counsel will no longer be employed by the U.S. Department of Justice"
"Undersigned counsel will no longer be employed by the U.S. Department of Justice"
Judge Dein will grant discovery into selective and vindictive prosecution in Kseniia Petrova's case.
JGD: I AM GOING TO ALLOW SOME DISCOVERY.
It will take her a little time to produce a written decision, she says.
It will take her a little time to produce a written decision, she says.
February 10, 2026 at 4:02 PM
Judge Dein will grant discovery into selective and vindictive prosecution in Kseniia Petrova's case.
Good morning from Boston federal court. Coming up at 10am, we have argument on Kseniia Petrova's motion to compel discovery.
See below for some background.
See below for some background.
After some months delay, we finally have the Kseniia #Petrova discovery dispute in sharper focus. Petrova's attorneys filed their motion to compel last night:
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Compel – #45 in United States v. Petrova (D. Mass., 1:25-cr-10272) – CourtListener.com
MOTION to Compel Discovery as to Kseniia Petrova. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D)(Fick, William) (Entered: 12/19/2025)
storage.courtlistener.com
February 10, 2026 at 2:48 PM
Good morning from Boston federal court. Coming up at 10am, we have argument on Kseniia Petrova's motion to compel discovery.
See below for some background.
See below for some background.
My brief writeup of Rümeysa Öztürk's immigration court win for @cambridgeday.com : www.cambridgeday.com/2026/02/09/j...
Judge terminates removal proceedings against Öztürk - Cambridge Day
Tufts student scores another legal victory, this time in immigration court, although the government could still appeal.
www.cambridgeday.com
February 10, 2026 at 3:36 AM
My brief writeup of Rümeysa Öztürk's immigration court win for @cambridgeday.com : www.cambridgeday.com/2026/02/09/j...
AAUP v. Rubio appealed.
The Government has appealed AAUP v. Rubio to the First Circuit. (This is no surprise.)
This is Judge Young's case about ideological deportation and bad actions by cabinet officials and with the goofy remedy that any class member can bring an action anywhere in a district court.
This is Judge Young's case about ideological deportation and bad actions by cabinet officials and with the goofy remedy that any class member can bring an action anywhere in a district court.
February 10, 2026 at 1:11 AM
AAUP v. Rubio appealed.
GOOD NEWS FOR ÖZTüRK:
An immigration judge (on Jan. 29) found that Tufts grad student Rümeysa Öztürk's immigration removal proceedings are over, an immigration judge found the Government did not meet its burden.
An immigration judge (on Jan. 29) found that Tufts grad student Rümeysa Öztürk's immigration removal proceedings are over, an immigration judge found the Government did not meet its burden.
February 9, 2026 at 11:35 PM
GOOD NEWS FOR ÖZTüRK:
An immigration judge (on Jan. 29) found that Tufts grad student Rümeysa Öztürk's immigration removal proceedings are over, an immigration judge found the Government did not meet its burden.
An immigration judge (on Jan. 29) found that Tufts grad student Rümeysa Öztürk's immigration removal proceedings are over, an immigration judge found the Government did not meet its burden.
More #cambma unrelated to the Council, DCR's "Riverbend Park" closure of Memorial Drive on Sundays (April–Nov.) is going to be cut in half this year, and the section from JFK to Gerry's Landing Road is not going to be available as a park due to construction.
February 9, 2026 at 11:18 PM
More #cambma unrelated to the Council, DCR's "Riverbend Park" closure of Memorial Drive on Sundays (April–Nov.) is going to be cut in half this year, and the section from JFK to Gerry's Landing Road is not going to be available as a park due to construction.
At 4:46pm the DOJ appealed Öztürk (Tufts student grabbed by ICE in March)'s preliminary injunction restoring her student status.
The Government has now appealed Rümeysa Öztürk's preliminary injunction restoring her SEVIS record and student status.
It's mis-marked as an appeal to the Federal Circuit but seems to be to the First Circuit like you would expect:
It's mis-marked as an appeal to the Federal Circuit but seems to be to the First Circuit like you would expect:
February 6, 2026 at 9:54 PM
At 4:46pm the DOJ appealed Öztürk (Tufts student grabbed by ICE in March)'s preliminary injunction restoring her student status.
Monday's #cambma City Council agenda carries a policy order (PN/CZ/JSW/MM) to triple the resident street parking permit fee from $25 to $75.
cambridgema.primegov.com/viewer/previ...
« I wonder if this feels more or less politically feasible when the street parking remains covered in snow. »
cambridgema.primegov.com/viewer/previ...
« I wonder if this feels more or less politically feasible when the street parking remains covered in snow. »
February 6, 2026 at 1:54 AM
Monday's #cambma City Council agenda carries a policy order (PN/CZ/JSW/MM) to triple the resident street parking permit fee from $25 to $75.
cambridgema.primegov.com/viewer/previ...
« I wonder if this feels more or less politically feasible when the street parking remains covered in snow. »
cambridgema.primegov.com/viewer/previ...
« I wonder if this feels more or less politically feasible when the street parking remains covered in snow. »
Hi from the MBTA's presentation to the Cambridge Transit Advisory Committee on a potential Alewife commuter rail stop
They're really burying the lede and dragging out the presentation with caveats, but up front they predict an Alewife stop would have 800–1200 daily boardings, put it in the top 10
They're really burying the lede and dragging out the presentation with caveats, but up front they predict an Alewife stop would have 800–1200 daily boardings, put it in the top 10
February 5, 2026 at 11:47 PM
Hi from the MBTA's presentation to the Cambridge Transit Advisory Committee on a potential Alewife commuter rail stop
They're really burying the lede and dragging out the presentation with caveats, but up front they predict an Alewife stop would have 800–1200 daily boardings, put it in the top 10
They're really burying the lede and dragging out the presentation with caveats, but up front they predict an Alewife stop would have 800–1200 daily boardings, put it in the top 10
1/2 Supplementing the Cambridge #cambma (and other Boston-area Metro Mayor's Coalition) cities/towns announcements restricting the use of municipal property for immigration activities…
Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang today issued an Executive Order Prohibiting the Use of City Property for Civil Immigration Enforcement Activities & Affirming the City's Welcoming Community Ordinance & Commitments to Public Safety & Public Trust.
More: https://camb.ma/3MgMnO1
More: https://camb.ma/3MgMnO1
February 5, 2026 at 7:37 PM
1/2 Supplementing the Cambridge #cambma (and other Boston-area Metro Mayor's Coalition) cities/towns announcements restricting the use of municipal property for immigration activities…
Reposted by John Hawkinson
Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang today issued an Executive Order Prohibiting the Use of City Property for Civil Immigration Enforcement Activities & Affirming the City's Welcoming Community Ordinance & Commitments to Public Safety & Public Trust.
More: https://camb.ma/3MgMnO1
More: https://camb.ma/3MgMnO1
February 5, 2026 at 7:03 PM
Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang today issued an Executive Order Prohibiting the Use of City Property for Civil Immigration Enforcement Activities & Affirming the City's Welcoming Community Ordinance & Commitments to Public Safety & Public Trust.
More: https://camb.ma/3MgMnO1
More: https://camb.ma/3MgMnO1
Tom Sieniewicz to MIT at the annual #cambma Town/Gown reports meeting: "Where are the hacks? There used to be hacks at MIT."
(I think this is a more astute question than Tom realizes?)
(I think this is a more astute question than Tom realizes?)
February 4, 2026 at 2:22 AM
Tom Sieniewicz to MIT at the annual #cambma Town/Gown reports meeting: "Where are the hacks? There used to be hacks at MIT."
(I think this is a more astute question than Tom realizes?)
(I think this is a more astute question than Tom realizes?)
28(j) letter tonight in the 2nd Circuit Öztürk case (responding to the Gov.'s Jan. 22 28(j) letter about the 3rd Circuit _Khalil_ case).
They argue mootness (transfer order wrongly appealed or appealed in the wrong court), and that _Khalil_ was wrongly decided.
They argue mootness (transfer order wrongly appealed or appealed in the wrong court), and that _Khalil_ was wrongly decided.
February 3, 2026 at 12:29 AM
28(j) letter tonight in the 2nd Circuit Öztürk case (responding to the Gov.'s Jan. 22 28(j) letter about the 3rd Circuit _Khalil_ case).
They argue mootness (transfer order wrongly appealed or appealed in the wrong court), and that _Khalil_ was wrongly decided.
They argue mootness (transfer order wrongly appealed or appealed in the wrong court), and that _Khalil_ was wrongly decided.
Today's #cambma City Council meeting is an an early 3:30pm, RIGHT NOW, and it's a "roundtable" meeting about the 2025 resident survey.
No public comment.
No public comment.
February 2, 2026 at 8:34 PM
Today's #cambma City Council meeting is an an early 3:30pm, RIGHT NOW, and it's a "roundtable" meeting about the 2025 resident survey.
No public comment.
No public comment.
In more D.Mass. #immigration news, LCR Boston has filed (7:54am) a lawsuit challenging ICE's warrantless home invasion policy.
That's Greater Boston Latino Network et al v. Noem.
I'll call it GBLN v. Noem.
Their press release, &c.:
lawyersforcivilrights.org/our-impact/p...
That's Greater Boston Latino Network et al v. Noem.
I'll call it GBLN v. Noem.
Their press release, &c.:
lawyersforcivilrights.org/our-impact/p...
Lawyers for Civil Rights
Advancing Equality and Justice
lawyersforcivilrights.org
January 30, 2026 at 1:49 PM
In more D.Mass. #immigration news, LCR Boston has filed (7:54am) a lawsuit challenging ICE's warrantless home invasion policy.
That's Greater Boston Latino Network et al v. Noem.
I'll call it GBLN v. Noem.
Their press release, &c.:
lawyersforcivilrights.org/our-impact/p...
That's Greater Boston Latino Network et al v. Noem.
I'll call it GBLN v. Noem.
Their press release, &c.:
lawyersforcivilrights.org/our-impact/p...
OK, so at the #cambma city council's Government Operations meeting on rules, the meeting agenda carried a set of potential suggestions from some councillors about potential rule changes:
… HOWEVER …
… HOWEVER …
January 29, 2026 at 4:24 PM
OK, so at the #cambma city council's Government Operations meeting on rules, the meeting agenda carried a set of potential suggestions from some councillors about potential rule changes:
… HOWEVER …
… HOWEVER …
Whoa. D.Minn's chief judge Patrick Schiltz dockets a list of "96 court orders that ICE has violated in 74 cases."
www.courtlistener.com/docket/72120...
www.courtlistener.com/docket/72120...
January 28, 2026 at 10:58 PM
Whoa. D.Minn's chief judge Patrick Schiltz dockets a list of "96 court orders that ICE has violated in 74 cases."
www.courtlistener.com/docket/72120...
www.courtlistener.com/docket/72120...