Opinion
CASE NO. 4:19-CV-51-CDL-MSH
05-03-2019
ALI MAROUNFA, Petitioner, v. UNITED STATES ATTORNEY GENERAL, et al., Respondents.
28 U.S.C. § 2241 RECOMMENDATION OF DISMISSAL
Presently pending before the Court is Respondents' amended motion to dismiss Petitioner's application for habeas corpus relief (ECF No. 8). Respondent filed the motion on April 19, 2019, along with a Warrant of Removal/Deportation showing that Petitioner was removed from the United States on April 9, 2019. Mot. to Dismiss Ex. A, ECF No. 8-1. Due to Petitioner's removal, Respondents contend his petition is moot and should be dismissed. Mot. to Dismiss 1, ECF No. 8. The Court agrees and recommends dismissal of this case as moot.
"[A] case is moot when the issues presented are no longer live or the parties lack a legally cognizable interest in the outcome." Al Najjar v. Ashcroft, 273 F.3d 1330, 1335-36 (11th Cir. 2001) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). "If 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. at 1336.
Here, Petitioner sought an order granting him a writ of habeas corpus and release from custody. Pet.11, ECF No. 1. Petitioner has been removed from the country and, according to Respondents, is no longer in Respondents' custody. Mot. to Dismiss 1-3; Mot. to Dismiss Ex. A. Because the Court can no longer give the 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. 8) be granted and Petitioner's application for habeas corpus relief (ECF No. 1) be dismissed. In light of that recommendation, it is also recommended that Petitioner's motion seeking injunctive relief (ECF No. 7) and Respondents' original motion to dismiss (ECF No. 5) both 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. 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 3rd day of May, 2019.
/s/ Stephen Hyles
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE