IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA LORYAN KOHNWAY, Civil No. 3:18-cv-1089 Petitioner . (Judge Mariani) v . WARDEN CLAIR DOLL, . Respondent . MEMORANDUM Background On May 24, 2018, Petitioner, Loryan Kohnway, a native and citizen of Liberia, filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus pursuant to

challenging his continued detention by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”). (Doc. 1). At the time his petition was filed, Petitioner was detained at the York County Prison, in York, Pennsylvania. (/d.). On August 5, 2019, Respondent filed a suggestion of mootness stating that Petitioner was released from the United States on July 16, 2019. (Doc. 8). Respondent argues that the habeas petition is therefore moot. (/d.). For the reasons set forth below, the Court will dismiss the habeas petition as moot. Il. Discussion Article III of the Constitution dictates that a federal court may adjudicate “only actual, ongoing cases or controversies.” Lewis v. Continental Bank Corp.,

(1990); Burkey v. Marberry,

(3d Cir. 2009). “[A] petition for habeas

corpus relief generally becomes moot when a prisoner is released from custody before the

court has addressed the merits of the petition.” Diaz-Cabrera v. Sabol,

, *3 (M.D. Pa. 2011) (quoting Lane v. Williams,

(1982).

Thus, when a petitioner, who challenges only his ICE detention pending removal and not

the validity of the removal order itself, is deported, the petition becomes moot because the

petitioner has achieved the relief sought. See Tahic v. Holder,

, *3-4 (M.D. Pa. 2011); Nguijol v. Mukasey,

, “1-2 (M.D.

Pa. 2008) (dismissing the habeas petition as moot). In the present case, the habeas petition challenges Petitioner's continued detention

pending removal. (See Doc. 1). Because Petitioner has since been released from ICE

custody and removed from the United States, the petition no longer presents an existing

case or controversy. See Sanchez v. AG,

(3d Cir. 2005) (holding that the habeas petition challenging the petitioner's continued detention by ICE was

rendered moot once the petitioner was released); Diaz-Cabrera,

at *2-4. Accordingly, the instant habeas corpus petition will be dismissed as moot.

See Blanciak v. Allegheny Ludlum Corp.,

(3d Cir. 1996) (“If developments occur during the course of adjudication that eliminate a plaintiff's personal stake in the outcome of a suit or prevent a court from being able to grant the requested

relief, the case must be dismissed as moot.”)). A separate Order shall issue. WX, Date: August 2 2019 □□ ‘AMMA | Robert D. Mariani United States District Judge