Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-alnd-4_14-cv-00253/USCOURTS-alnd-4_14-cv-00253-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 463
Nature of Suit: Habeas Corpus - Alien Detainee
Cause of Action: 8:1105(a) Aliens: Habeas Corpus to Release INS Det

---

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA

MIDDLE DIVISION

REX ADDO OSEI, )

)

 Petitioner, )

)

v. ) Case Number: 4:14-cv-00253-SLB-JHE

)

ERIC HOLDER, JR. et al., )

)

 Respondents. )

MEMORANDUM OPINION

On February 12, 2014, Petitioner Rex Addo Osei (“Osei”) filed a petition for a writ of

habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241. (Doc. 1). At the time he filed his petition, OSei, a

native of Ghana, was incarcerated at the Etowah County Detention Center, in the custody of the

Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”). In his petition, Osei alleged that he

was being illegally detained by ICE pending his deportation to Ghana. On May 14, 2014, Osei

was released from ICE custody pursuant to an Order of Supervision. (Docs. 8, 8-1). 

Respondents have filed a motion to dismiss the action as moot, since Osei is no longer in ICE

custody. (Doc. 8). For the reasons stated below, Respondents’ motion will be granted and the

action be dismissed as moot.

Article III of the Constitution limits the jurisdiction of federal courts to the consideration

of “cases or controversies.” U.S. CONST. art. III, § 2. The doctrine of mootness is derived from

this limitation because “an action that is moot cannot be characterized as an active case or

controversy.” Adler v. Duval Cnty. Sch. Bd., 112 F.3d 1475, 1477 (11th Cir. 1997). A case is

moot and must be dismissed if the court can no longer provide “meaningful relief.” Nyaga v.

FILED

 2014 Aug-08 PM 02:42

U.S. DISTRICT COURT

N.D. OF ALABAMA

Case 4:14-cv-00253-SLB-JHE Document 9 Filed 08/08/14 Page 1 of 3
Ashcroft, 323 F.3d 906, 913 (11th Cir. 2003) (citations omitted). Osei’s release from ICE

custody rendered his petition moot. 

The relief Osei seeks in his petition is to be released from ICE custody. Because Osei is

no longer in ICE custody, his petition has been rendered moot, unless an exception to the

mootness doctrine applies. There are two exceptions to the mootness doctrine: (1) collateral

consequences and (2) “capable of repetition yet evading review.” Carafas v. LaVallee, 391 U.S.

234, 237, 88 S. Ct. 1556, 1559 (1968); Murphy v. Hunt, 455 U.S. 478, 482, 102 S. Ct. 1181,

1183-84 (1982). Neither exception applies here. The collateral consequences exception does

not apply because there are no “disabilities or burdens which may flow” from the custody that

Osei challenges. See Carafas, 391 U.S. at 237, 88 S. Ct. at 1559. The exception for events

“capable of repetition, yet evading review” does not apply here either. Petitioner has been

released from custody, and the potential circumstances of this case happening again are too

speculative to create an actual controversy sufficient to support a claim for relief. See Weinstein

v. Bradford, 423 U.S. 147, 149, 96 S. Ct. 347, 348-49 (1975) (holding that the “capable of

repetition, yet evading review” exception applies when (1) the challenged action is too short in

duration to be fully litigated prior to its cessation or expiration, and (2) there is a reasonable

expectation that the same complaining party would be subjected to the same action again.). 

Because there is no longer any relief that can be granted to Osei, his petition is due to be

dismissed as moot.

2

Case 4:14-cv-00253-SLB-JHE Document 9 Filed 08/08/14 Page 2 of 3
Based on the foregoing, the Respondents’ motion to dismiss, (doc. 8), is GRANTED. A

separate order will be entered.

DONE this 8th day of August, 2014.

 

SHARON LOVELACE BLACKBURN

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 

3

Case 4:14-cv-00253-SLB-JHE Document 9 Filed 08/08/14 Page 3 of 3