Court Denies Pseudonymity for Sex Offender Immigration Detainee Citing Speculative Harm in Syria

A federal magistrate judge in the Central District of California denied a motion by an immigration detainee and convicted sex offender to proceed under a pseudonym in his habeas corpus case. The petitioner, who is proceeding pro se, argued he might face danger if removed to Syria and his identity were known. Judge Alka Sagar ruled that the nature of his sex offense conviction alone does not warrant anonymity, citing Ninth Circuit precedent that such a broad application would undermine the public's right to access judicial proceedings. The court also found the petitioner's conclusory and unsupported assertion of potential retaliation from the Syrian government insufficient to meet his burden of proof for anonymous proceedings. The decision was issued on March 9, 2026, but recently posted on Westlaw.