Ijeoma Chanthavong v. Todd Blanche

Summary

Petitioner Chanthavong, a Nigerian citizen, appealed the district court’s dismissal of her habeas petition challenging mandatory immigration detention following an aggravated‑felony conviction. The Eighth Circuit, reviewing de novo, affirmed the dismissal, holding that the detention was mandatory, the petition premature, and the detention presumptively reasonable under Zadvydas. The court also noted that unbriefed VAWA and guilty‑plea‑vacatur claims were waived.