S.F. v. Pam Bondi, et al.

• Court: District Court, M.D. Georgia
• Decided: September 17, 2025
• Docket: 4:25-cv-00121
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF GEORGIA COLUMBUS DIVISION

S.F., : : Petitioner, : : v. : Case No. 4:25-cv-121-CDL-AGH : 28 U.S.C. § 2241 PAM BONDI, et al., : : Respondents. : _________________________________

RECOMMENDATION OF DISMISSAL

Pending before the Court is Petitioner’s application for habeas relief (ECF No. 1), and Respondents’ motion to dismiss (ECF No. 7). On August 14, 2025, Respondents notified the Court that Petitioner had been removed from the United States to the Republic of Cote D’Ivoire. Resp’ts’ Mot. to Dismiss 1, ECF No. 7. In support, Respondents submitted an I-205 Warrant of Removal/Deportation showing that Petitioner was removed from the United States on August 5, 2025. Resp’ts’ Ex. A, at 2, ECF No. 7-1. Due to Petitioner’s removal, Respondents move to dismiss his petition as moot. Resp’ts’ Mot. to Dismiss 1-2. As explained below, the Court recommends that the motion be granted. “Article III of the Constitution limits the jurisdiction of federal courts to the consideration of ‘Cases’ and ‘Controversies.’” Soliman v. United States, 296 F.3d 1237, 1242-43 (11th Cir. 2002) (citing U.S. Const. art. III, § 2, and finding appeal moot where petitioner was removed from the United States). “The doctrine of mootness derives directly from the case or controversy limitation because an action that is moot cannot be characterized as an active case or controversy.” Id. at 1242 (internal quotation marks omitted). “[P]ut another way, a case is moot when it no longer presents a live controversy with respect to which the court can give meaningful

relief.” Id. (internal quotation marks omitted). “Therefore, ‘[i]f events that occur subsequent to the filing of a lawsuit or an appeal deprive the court of the ability to give the plaintiff or appellant meaningful relief, then the case is moot and must be dismissed.’” Id. (quoting Al Najjar v. Ashcroft, 273 F.3d 1330, 1336 (11th Cir. 2001)). Here, Petitioner sought an order granting him a writ of habeas corpus and release from custody. Pet. 9, ECF No. 1. Petitioner was removed from the country to

the Republic of Cote D’Ivoire and appears to no longer be in Respondents’ custody. Resp’ts’ Mot. to Dismiss 1-2; Resp’ts’ Ex. A, at 2. Petitioner did not respond to the motion to dismiss.1 Because Petitioner is no longer in Respondents’ custody, the Court can no longer give Petitioner any meaningful relief, the case is moot, and “dismissal is required because mootness is jurisdictional.” Al Najjar, 273 F.3d at 1336. It is therefore RECOMMENDED that Respondents’ motion to dismiss (ECF

No. 7) be GRANTED and Petitioner’s application for habeas corpus relief (ECF No. 1) be DISMISSED as moot. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1), the parties may serve and file written objections to this Recommendation, or seek an extension of time to file objections, within FOURTEEN (14) DAYS after being served with a copy hereof.

1 The Court sent notice (ECF No. 8) to Petitioner of his right to respond to Respondents’ second motion to dismiss, but the notice was returned as undeliverable because he was no longer at the detention facility. Mail Returned, ECF No. 9. The Court has no other address for Petitioner. Any objection should be no longer than TWENTY (20) PAGES in length. See M.D. Ga. L.R. 7.4. The district judge shall make a de novo determination of those portions of the Recommendation to which objection is made. All other portions of the

Recommendation may be reviewed for clear error. The parties are hereby notified that, pursuant to Eleventh Circuit Rule 3-1, “[a] party failing to object to a magistrate judge’s findings or recommendations contained in a report and recommendation in accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1) waives the right to challenge on appeal the district court’s order based on unobjected-to factual and legal conclusions if the party was informed of the

time period for objecting and the consequences on appeal for failing to object. In the absence of a proper objection, however, the court may review on appeal for plain error if necessary in the interests of justice.” SO RECOMMENDED, this 17th day of September, 2025. s/ Amelia G. Helmick UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE