Cochancela v. Almodovar
Walter Ortega Cochancela v. Judith Almodovar, Acting Director of the New York City Field Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Kristi Noem, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security; Pamela Bondi, Attorney General, in their official capacities
- Subramanian
- 1:25-cv-07448
- U.S. District Court · Southern District of New York
- 1
In Walter Ortega Cochancela v. Judith Almodovar, Judge Subramanian transferred the case because the Southern District of New York lacked jurisdiction.
Walter Ortega Cochancela and the respondents named in the petition are affected by the transfer of the case from the Southern District of New York to the Western District of New York.
What happened
Walter Ortega Cochancela filed a petition against Judith Almodovar, Kristi Noem, and Pamela Bondi. He alleged that he was detained in Batavia, New York, and might be transferred to a remote facility in Texas.
The court said the Southern District of New York had no jurisdiction based on those allegations. It transferred the case to the Western District of New York, rather than deciding the petition’s underlying issues.
Judge Arun Subramanian ordered the transfer under federal law and directed the clerk to close the case in the Southern District of New York. The case will proceed in the Western District of New York as though it had been filed there on the original filing date.
The detailed version
- Cochancela v. Almodovar · No. 1:25-cv-07448
- Subramanian
- Sept. 15, 2025
Background
Walter Ortega Cochancela filed a petition against Judith Almodovar, Kristi Noem, and Pamela Bondi in their official capacities. The opinion states that, according to the petition, Cochancela was detained in Batavia, New York. He also alleged that Immigration and Customs Enforcement had declared its intent to transfer him immediately to a remote detention facility in Texas, far from his family and attorneys.
Court’s Analysis
The court concluded that the Southern District of New York had no jurisdiction based on the allegations in the petition. The opinion cited decisions concerning the proper district for challenges involving detention and cited 28 U.S.C. § 1631, which authorizes transfer when a court lacks jurisdiction if transfer serves the interests of justice.
Ruling
Judge Arun Subramanian transferred the case to the United States District Court for the Western District of New York. The clerk was directed to transfer the case and close it in the Southern District of New York. The order states that, after transfer, the case will proceed as though it had been filed in the receiving court on the date it was filed in the Southern District of New York. The court did not decide the petition’s underlying issues.
Read the full 1-page opinion on CourtListener, the free public archive maintained by the Free Law Project.