Chhim v. McDonald

Filing 9

Judge F. Dennis Saylor, IV: ORDER ON HABEAS PETITION entered. Copy mailed. (Pezzarossi, Lisa)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS
_____________________________________
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PHAL CHHIM,
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Petitioner,
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v.
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JOSEPH D. MCDONALD,
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Respondent.
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_____________________________________)

Civil Action No.
17-10414-FDS

ORDER ON HABEAS PETITION
SAYLOR, J.
This is a habeas petition by a person held in Bureau of Immigration and Customs
Enforcement custody. Petitioner Phal Chhim has been in immigration custody awaiting
deportation to Cambodia for more than six months. He brings this petition pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§ 2241.
As interpreted by the Supreme Court in Zadvydas v. Davis, 8 U.S.C. § 1231(a)(1)(A)
limits the time during which an alien may be held in custody awaiting deportation “to a period
reasonably necessary to bring about that alien’s removal from the United States.” 533 U.S. 678,
689 (2001). Six months is a presumptively reasonable period to effectuate removal. Id. at 701.
An alien held for longer than six months may be released from custody upon a showing that
there is “no significant likelihood of removal in the reasonably foreseeable future.” Id.
On April 6, 2017, respondent filed a Second Notice of Intent to Remove Petitioner,
stating that the Department of Homeland Security intends to transfer petitioner on April 10,
2017, and to remove him to Cambodia on May 3, 2017. That representation suffices to rebut

petitioner’s claim that there is no significant likelihood of removal in the reasonably foreseeable
future.
Accordingly, the habeas petition is DISMISSED based on the representation of the
government as to the anticipated timing of removal. Should that removal not occur as
anticipated, and for good cause shown, the Court may consider vacating this order of dismissal.

So Ordered.
/s/ F. Dennis Saylor
F. Dennis Saylor IV
United States District Judge

Dated: April 7, 2016

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