Njeri v. Lynch et al

Filing 24

ORDER DISMISSING CASE: The petition for writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §2241 (Doc. 1) is moot. This action is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. Signed by Judge David R. Herndon on 10/13/2016. (dsw)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
JOSEPH NJERI,

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Petitioner,
vs.

WARDEN, PULASKI IMMIGRATION
DETENTION FACILITY,
Respondent.

Civil No. 16-cv-369-DRH-CJP

MEMORANDUM and ORDER
HERNDON, District Judge:
Petitioner Joseph Njeri filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus pursuant
to 28 U.S.C. §2241 challenging his detention by Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE). In response to this Court’s recent order, respondent filed a
status report stating that petitioner has been removed. See, Doc. 22.
Relevant Facts and Procedural History
According to respondent, petitioner is a native and citizen of Kenya who
entered the United States on a student visa in 2006. He was convicted of at least
three criminal offenses thereafter.

In 2014, ICE took him into custody and

initiated removal proceedings. See, Doc. 12.
The §2241 petition asserts that petitioner was not properly subject to
mandatory detention under 8 U.S.C. §1226(c), and his continued detention
without a bond hearing violates his right to due process of law. The relief sought
is a fair bond hearing and release from unlawful detention.
Respondent disputes that petitioner was held under §1226(c).
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Rather,

according to respondent, he was held under §1226(a), and, contrary to
petitioner’s claim, he was afforded an individualized bond hearing. Doc. 12, p. 4.
In any event, Njeri has now been removed to Kenya. Doc. 22, Ex. 1.
Analysis
Under 28 U.S.C. § 2241(c), a writ of habeas corpus “shall not extend to a
prisoner” unless he is “in custody.” The “in custody” requirement is satisfied if
the petitioner was in custody at the time of the filing of the petition. Spencer v.
Kemna, 118 S. Ct. 978, 983 (1998). Therefore, a detainee who is released while
his petition for writ of habeas corpus is pending meets the “in custody”
requirement; his release does not necessarily render his petition moot.
However, the petition must still present a “case or controversy” under
Article III, § 2 of the Constitution. That is, the petitioner “must have suffered, or
be threatened with, an actual injury traceable to the [respondent] and likely to be
redressed by a favorable judicial decision.” Spencer, 118 S. Ct. at 983 (internal
citation omitted).
The Seventh Circuit directs a federal court to “dismiss a case as moot when
it cannot give the petitioner any effective relief.” A.M. v. Butler, 360 F.3d 787, 790
(7th Cir. 2004). That is the situation here. Petitioner has received the relief

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sought, i.e., release from ICE custody.
Conclusion
The petition for writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §2241 (Doc. 1)
is moot. This action is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Signed this 13th day of October, 2016.

Judge Herndon
2016.10.13
15:37:42 -05'00'
United States District Judge

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