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Haitian father files habeas petition after being stopped and arrested with family in car

Oct 5, 2026·Location: Springfield, OH

Country of origin: Haiti

Haitian father files habeas petition after being stopped and arrested with family in car
Photo via journal-news.com

Peterson Nozil, a 37-year-old Haitian national who has lived in Springfield since August 2022, was stopped and arrested while driving home with his family in the car. He had been inspected at the border, granted humanitarian parole, later received temporary protected status, held a valid work permit, and had applied for asylum. His attorney, Maria Otero, filed a habeas corpus petition on Oct. 1 in the Southern District of Ohio seeking a bond hearing and his release from the Butler County Jail, joining several other Haitian nationals in southwest Ohio challenging ICE's mandatory detention policy. The petition was supported by exhibits including his marriage license, his daughter's birth certificate, an employer letter, a church certificate, and letters of support. Judge Matthew W. McFarland ordered the government to respond to the petition by Oct. 5.

Timeline

Oct 5, 2026—Judge Matthew W. McFarland ordered the government to respond to the petition
Oct 1, 2026—Peterson Nozil files habeas corpus petition seeking bond hearing and release from Butler County Jail
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