[UPDATED.] We Will Know Much More -- By 4 PM EDT Tonight, On Mr. Khalil's Status, At Down In The Private Prison In Jena Louisiana...

UPDATE: The 4 PM letter reads -- in pertinent part -- thus:

. . .In response to the Court’s text order from today, ECF 208, Petitioner respectfully states the following:

a. There are no future hearings currently scheduled before the immigration judge in Louisiana and Petitioner cannot predict if or when the immigration judge will schedule any future hearings. In an ordinary case, Petitioner’s counsel would expect one or two additional hearings to be scheduled regarding the government’s alleged second ground of removability and, subsequently, regarding Petitioner’s applications for immigration relief.

b. Petitioner is unable to hazard a guess as to the timing of the immigration judge’s decision on the government’s alleged second ground of removability. At the April 11 hearing, the immigration judge granted the government additional time, until today, April 23, to submit any additional evidence in support of its alleged second ground of removability and for Petitioner to submit any evidence related to the second charge and any applications for relief he may be seeking. Immigration Hearing (Apr. 11, 2025), audio at 01:38:20. When the immigration judge acts on that evidence, and whether or when she might order any additional hearings, is within the immigration judge’s discretion. . . .

End update.

Overall, this is good news -- the admin. law judge is not rushing any additional removability hearings -- down in Jena. But Mr. Khalil remains in custody without being granted a real, on the merits hearing -- on any detention-eligible charges.

Check back here after 5 PM Central [I'm off-grid for a bit, now] as we will post the update (due at 4 PM Eastern), here.

. . .TEXT ORDER:

The Petitioner [Counsel for Mr. Khalil] shall file a succinct letter before 4:00pm today.

It shall provide the Court with an update as to

(a) when the Petitioner has his next appearance before the immigration judge and

(b) the earliest moment when, in the Petitioner's judgment, the immigration judge may make a decision as to the second ground of removability.

Tomorrow, before noon, the parties shall file a joint letter that attaches all immigration court filings that have not previously been conveyed to the Court.

So Ordered by Judge Michael E. Farbiarz on 4/23/2025. . . .

Now you know. This is what effective judicial oversight of executive overreaching looks like. Thank you, judiciary branch!

नमस्ते