Opinion

Opinion

Court
District Court, M.D. Florida
Filed
Jun 4, 2026
Cited by
0 cases
Authority
More cited than 41.4%

The opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

JACKSONVILLE DIVISION

FREDY RAMIRO DOMINGO ORDONEZ,

Petitioner,

v. Case No. 3:26-cv-1447-MMH-MCR

WARDEN, FLORIDA BAKER

CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION, et al.,

Respondents.

___________________________________

TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER

Petitioner Fredy Ramiro Domingo Ordonez, an immigration detainee,

initiated this action by filing a pro se Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (Doc.

1; Petition) on June 1, 2026. Ordonez appears to argue that he is not subject to

mandatory detention and is entitled to a bond hearing. See generally id. As

relief, he asks the Court to order his immediate release. Id. at 9.

Along with his Petition, Ordonez has filed an Ex Parte Application for

Temporary Restraining Order (Doc. 2; Motion). In the Motion, Ordonez asks

the Court, inter alia, to enjoin Respondents from transferring him outside of

this Court’s jurisdiction during the pendency of this case.1 Id. at 6.

1 The Court notes that while Ordonez seeks entry only of a temporary

restraining order; he also requests that the Court enjoin Respondents from

transferring him outside the jurisdiction of the Court while this matter is pending. A

temporary restraining order, which is issued without notice, ordinarily grants relief

Injunctive relief, whether in the form of a temporary restraining order

or a preliminary injunction, “is an extraordinary and drastic remedy.” Wreal,

LLC v. Amazon.com, Inc., 840 F.3d 1244, 1247 (11th Cir. 2016) (quoting Siegel

v. LePore, 234 F.3d 1163, 1176 (11th Cir. 2000)). To secure an injunction, a

party must establish four elements: (1) a substantial likelihood of success on

the merits; (2) irreparable injury absent an injunction; (3) the injury outweighs

whatever damage an injunction may cause the opposing party; and (4) an

injunction is not adverse to the public interest. Citizens for Police

Accountability Pol. Comm. v. Browning, 572 F.3d 1213, 1217 (11th Cir. 2009)

(per curiam) (internal citation omitted); Keister v. Bell, 879 F.3d 1282, 1287–

88 (11th Cir. 2018). Notably, where the government is the party opposing the

injunction, the third and fourth factors merge. See Gonzalez v. Governor of Ga.,

978 F.3d 1266, 1271 (11th Cir. 2020) (discussing elements of a preliminary

injunction against a government entity). The movant must clearly establish

the burden of persuasion as to the four requisites. See McDonald’s Corp. v.

Robertson, 147 F.3d 1301, 1306 (11th Cir. 1998).

Upon review of the record, the Court finds that Ordonez has shown a

substantial likelihood of success on his claim that his mandatory detention is

for no more than 14 days. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(b)(2). Given that the relief Ordonez

seeks will extend beyond the 14 days, the Court construes the Motion as seeking entry

of a preliminary injunction as well.

2

unlawful. And considering the allegations in the Motion and Petition, the

Court finds that a temporary restraining order to maintain the status quo is

warranted. See Fernandez-Roque v. Smith, 671 F.2d 426, 429 (11th Cir. 1982)

(“One inherent characteristic of a temporary restraining order is that it has

the effect of merely preserving the status quo[.]”). Without interim relief to

maintain the status quo, Ordonez’s transfer outside of this Court’s jurisdiction

could delay the Court’s adjudication of this case. If he is ultimately granted the

relief he seeks (release from ICE custody), he may incur costs and potentially

face difficulties in returning home. The exigency of Ordonez’s potential

unlawful detention and removal from this District necessitates entry of this

temporary restraining order without notice to Respondents. As such, the

Motion is granted to the extent that the Court will enjoin Respondents from

removing Ordonez from the Middle District of Florida. Moreover, because there

is no realistic likelihood of prejudice to Respondents from the issuance of this

limited restraint, the Court exercises its discretion to dispense with the

requirement that Ordonez provide security under Rule 65(c), Federal Rules of

Civil Procedure (Rule(s)). See Ajugwe v. Noem, No. 8:25-CV-982-MSS-AEP,

2025 WL 1370212, at *10 (M.D. Fla. May 12, 2025) (exercising “discretion to

waive the bond requirement in Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(c)”).

Accordingly, it is ORDERED:

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1. Ordonez’s Ex Parte Application for Temporary Restraining Order

(Doc. 2) is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part. The Motion is

GRANTED to the extent that Respondents and any officers, agents, servants,

employees, attorneys, and persons in active concert or participation with

Respondents who receive actual notice of this Order, are enjoined from

removing Ordonez from the Middle District of Florida up to and including

June 18, 2026, unless this temporary restraining order is extended or earlier

dissolved. The security required by Rule 65(c) is waived. The Motion is

DENIED in all other respects.

2. The Clerk of Court shall send a copy of the Petition for Writ of

Habeas Corpus (Doc. 1), the Motion (Doc. 2), and this Order by e-mail to the

United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida

(USAFLM.JAX.Civil.NewCases@usdoj.gov); and by first-class mail to the

Attorney General of the United States, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW,

Washington, DC 20530. All costs of service shall be advanced by the United

States.

3. Upon consideration of the file, the Court will consolidate

consideration of the construed request for a preliminary injunction with an

adjudication of the Petition on the merits. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(a)(2) (“Before

or after the beginning of the hearing on a motion for a preliminary injunction,

4

the court may advance the trial on the merits and consolidate it with the

hearing.”). Therefore, by June 9, 2026, Respondents shall respond to the

construed request for a preliminary injunction and show cause why the

Petition should not be granted.

4. After Respondents file a response, Ordonez shall file a reply to

Respondents’ response by June 12, 2026.

DONE AND ORDERED at Jacksonville, Florida, this 4th day of June,

2026, at 1:45 p.m.

MARCIA MORALES HOWARD

United States District Judge

Jax-9 6/4

C:

Fredy Ramiro Domingo Ordonez

U.S. Attorney’s Office secondary email (OPLAORLFEDLIT@ice.dhs.gov)

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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