Last week, Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a doctor specializing in kidney transplants and professor at Brown University, was sent back to her home country, Lebanon, even though a judge had ordered she remain in the United States.
Dr. Alawieh, who had a special U.S. visa allowing her to work as a transplant doctor, was detained at Boston’s Logan Airport after returning from visiting family in Lebanon. Authorities searched her phone and found photos and videos of leaders from Hezbollah, a political and religious group that the U.S. government calls a terrorist organization.
When questioned by officers, Dr. Alawieh explained that she attended the funeral of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah because he is respected in her religious community. She said she followed Nasrallah’s teachings “from a religious perspective” but not a political one. She also explained that Shia Muslims, like herself, often keep images of such leaders for religious reasons, not political ones.
Despite her explanations, federal authorities decided to deport Dr. Alawieh. Her cousin, Yara Chehab, quickly tried to help by filing a lawsuit. A judge, Leo Sorokin, ordered officials not to deport Dr. Alawieh and to inform the court if they planned to do so. But U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers claimed they did not receive the judge’s order until after Dr. Alawieh had already left the U.S. on a flight to Paris.
The government later explained the deportation by saying Dr. Alawieh had “sympathetic photos and videos” of Hezbollah leaders on her phone. CBP official John Wallace said, “At no time, would CBP not take a court order seriously or fail to abide by a court’s order.” He added that the officers did not receive official notification until after the plane had departed.
Dr. Alawieh has lived in the United States since 2018, first arriving on a student visa to study at universities like Ohio State, the University of Washington, and Yale. She specializes in nephrology, which involves caring for people before and after kidney transplants.
Brown Medicine, a medical practice connected with Brown University, had sponsored Dr. Alawieh’s recent visa. Her colleague, Dr. George Bayliss, expressed concern about how situations like this might affect medical professionals coming to the U.S. He said fears about immigration could “harm the pipeline even more.”
In response, Brown University advised students and faculty who are worried about immigration issues to consider postponing travel outside the United States until more is known from the U.S. government.
The judge who had originally tried to keep Dr. Alawieh in the U.S. has requested additional details from the government about why they deported her, calling the matter “serious allegations.” Lawyers for Dr. Alawieh’s family stated that the government “willfully” disobeyed the judge’s order. The case is still ongoing as lawyers plan to argue for Dr. Alawieh’s return to the United States.
This article is based on the following articles:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rasha-alawieh-brown-university-doctor-deportation-lebanon
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/17/rasha-alawieh-deportation-026038
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/16/us/brown-university-rasha-alawieh-professor-deported.html
Background Information
Hezbollah:
Hezbollah is a political and religious organization based in Lebanon, a country in the Middle East. It began in the early 1980s, during Lebanon’s civil war, as a Shia Muslim group dedicated to resisting Israel’s occupation of parts of Lebanon. Over time, it grew into a powerful organization with both political and military arms. The United States government labels Hezbollah as a terrorist group because it has been involved in attacks and conflicts with Israel, a close ally of the U.S.
Shia Muslims see some Hezbollah leaders as important religious figures, not just political leaders. Shia Islam is one of the two major branches of Islam, along with Sunni Islam, and the two groups sometimes have different religious leaders and practices. Shia Muslims particularly respect religious leaders who teach about faith and community values, which is why some people, like Dr. Alawieh, might keep photos or recordings of Hezbollah leaders from a religious viewpoint rather than a political one.
U.S. Immigration Policies
Understanding U.S. immigration policy is also important for students. The U.S. government allows people from other countries to come and work in America by giving them different kinds of visas. For example, Dr. Alawieh had an H-1B visa, a special type of permission for highly skilled professionals, such as doctors and scientists. This visa allows people to stay in the U.S. because they have valuable skills that may not be easily found among American workers.
However, having a visa does not guarantee entry into the U.S. Immigration officers at airports or borders have the final say. They inspect travelers and their belongings to ensure they do not pose a risk to national security. If officers find something suspicious, such as evidence of support for groups considered terrorist organizations, they can deny entry, cancel visas, or even deport the person, as happened to Dr. Alawieh.
Courts and Judges’ Orders
Another important idea for students is how the U.S. legal system works. Judges in the United States make decisions about important cases, and their orders must be followed. Sometimes, when there is an urgent situation—like preventing a deportation—judges issue special orders. These orders, known as injunctions, tell officials exactly what they must or must not do.
In Dr. Alawieh’s case, a judge issued an order instructing immigration officials not to deport her until the court could review her case. Not following such an order is a serious issue because it challenges the authority of the courts and the rule of law, which is the principle that laws and judicial orders apply to everyone equally.
Brown University
Brown University, where Dr. Alawieh worked, is an important and respected institution in the United States. Located in Providence, Rhode Island, it is known for excellence in education and research, especially in fields like medicine. Many doctors, scientists, and students from around the world come to places like Brown University to learn, teach, and share knowledge. International professors and doctors play an essential role in American hospitals and universities, often filling positions that are challenging to staff.
Lebanon and Its Politics
Lebanon is a country in the Middle East. It is known for its religious and cultural diversity, with Muslims, Christians, and other communities living together. Hezbollah is influential primarily among Lebanon’s Shia Muslims. Lebanon has faced many years of political instability and conflict, which sometimes makes international relationships and travel complicated.
Debate/Essay Questions
- Was it fair to deport Dr. Alawieh based on the photos found on her phone, even though she said they were religious and not political?
- Should the government face consequences if it does not follow a judge’s order?
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