Case Name in Immigration Case - Unavailable

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
WESTERN DIVISION
Momohu Karanga,
Petitioner,
v.
Kevin Raycraft, Field Office Acting Director of
Enforcement and Removal Operations Detroit,
United States Immigration and Customs
Enforcement,
Respondent.
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Case No. 1:25-cv-735
Judge Susan J. Dlott
Order Granting the Motion to Vacate
This matter is before the Court on Respondent’s Motion to Vacate Court’s Order Not to
Remove Petitioner from the District. (Doc. 11.) Petitioner Momohu Karanga, a national and
citizen of The Gambia, is being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) in
the Butler County, Ohio jail and is subject to a 2022 immigration order that he be removed from
the United States to The Gambia. (Doc. 1 at PageID 4; Doc. 9-1 at PageID 44–45.) Karanga
filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (“Habeas Petition”) challenging his continued
detention pending removal, but not the removal order itself. (Doc. 1.) On October 21, 2025, the
Court issued an Order that Respondent neither remove Karanga from this District nor allow him
to be removed from this District unless or until the Court orders otherwise. (Doc. 2.)
Respondent moves the Court to vacate that Order arguing that it has obtained the necessary
travel documents from The Gambia to effectuate Karanga’s removal from the United States. For
the reasons that follow, the Court will GRANT Respondent’s Motion.
I.
Karanga entered the United States in 2022. (Doc. 1 at PageID 4.) He was taken into
custody by the United States Border Patrol in May 2022 and later transferred to the custody of
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ICE. (Doc. 9-1 at PageID 45.) He applied for asylum, but in June 2022 an immigration judge
ordered him to be removed from the United States to The Gambia. (Doc. 1 at PageID 4; Doc. 9-
1 at PageID 45.) ICE did not accomplish his removal at that time, and it released Karanga from
custody under an order of supervision in October 2022. (Doc. 9-1 at PageID 45.) Karanga
complied with the conditions of release and regularly attended his ICE check-in appointments.
(Id.) He asserts that he is married to a United States citizen and is the sole provider for her and
their child. (Doc. 1 at PageID 4.)
Karanga was detained again by ICE on or about October 1, 2025 during a supervisory
check-in appointment, and he filed his Habeas Petition on October 16, 2025. (Id.; Doc. 9-1 at
PageID 45.) Respondent filed its Return of Writ on November 21, 2025, supported by the
Declaration of Stephanie Parker, a Deportation Officer with the Columbus Sub Office of
Enforcement and Removal Operations within ICE. (Doc. 9; Doc. 9-1 at PageID 44.) Officer
Parker attested that ICE applied to The Gambia for travel documents for Karanga on October 14,
2025 and that Karanga had an interview with The Gambia consulate on November 17, 2025 as
part of that process. (Id. at PageID 46.) She also attested that an ICE Removal and International
Operations officer confirmed that The Gambia is issuing travel documents for individuals
confirmed to be its citizens to facilitate removals. (Id.) Respondent did not then have the travel
documents from The Gambia necessary to effectuate Karanga’s removal.
Respondent then filed the pending Motion to Vacate on December 23, 2025 asking the
Court to lift the October 21, 2025 Order so it can remove Karanga to The Gambia. (Doc. 11.) It
attached an Emergency Travel Document from the Republic of The Gambia for Karanga, which
was issued on December 9, 2025 and expires on June 9, 2026. (Doc. 11-1 at PageID 63.)
Karanga filed an Opposition brief, to which Respondent filed a Reply. (Docs. 12, 14.) Karanga
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objects to the Court vacating the October 21, 2025 Order because Respondent has not provided
concrete plans for or the date of his removal. However, upon review of Respondent’s
submissions, the Court is satisfied that Respondent plans to remove Karanga to The Gambia in
the reasonably foreseeable future. As such, it will vacate the October 21, 2025 Order to the
extent necessary to allow Respondent to remove Karanaga to The Gambia.
II.
The Motion to Vacate is GRANTED (Doc. 11) insofar as the October 21, 2025 Order
(Doc. 2) is VACATED to the extent necessary to allow Respondent to effectuate removal of
Karanga to The Gambia. The Court further ORDERS that Karanga is to be removed to The
Gambia as expeditiously as possible. The parties shall immediately notify the Court when
Karanga has been removed to The Gambia or notify the Court by February 15, 2026 if Karanga
has not been removed to The Gambia. The Court will set this matter for a status conference if
Karanga has not been removed by February 15, 2026.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
S/Susan J. Dlott___________________
Judge Susan J. Dlott
United States District Court
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