The Intriguing Case of the Deportation of Dr. Rasha Alawieh
In a rapidly developing story, here’s what we know so far about the deportation of Dr. Rasha Alawieh, an assistant professor at Brown Medicine.
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Dr. Andrew Bostom, an expert on Islamic Jihad and a frequent guest on #InTheDugout, will be Mike Stenhouse’s guest to discuss his research on this issue on Wednesday, March 19.
The U.S. government, specifically the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), has stated that Dr. Rasha Alawieh was deported due to evidence suggesting she supported Hezbollah, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department. According to DHS, Alawieh “openly admitted” to CBP officers that she traveled to Beirut, Lebanon, in February 2025 to attend the funeral of Hassan Nasrallah, a prominent Hezbollah leader killed in an Israeli airstrike in September 2024. During her detention at Boston Logan International Airport on March 13, 2025, CBP officers searched her phone and found “sympathetic photos and videos” of Nasrallah and other Hezbollah figures in her deleted items folder. The government claims she expressed support for Nasrallah “from a religious perspective” but denied political or military alignment. DHS further asserts that her visa was canceled because “glorifying and supporting terrorists who kill Americans is grounds for visa issuance to be denied,” framing it as a “common-sense security” measure. They also contend that CBP officers at Logan Airport did not receive formal notification of a federal judge’s order to delay her deportation until after she had already been placed on a flight to Paris on March 14, 2025, en route to Lebanon.
Known Facts
- Background and Visa Status: Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a 34-year-old Lebanese citizen, is a kidney transplant specialist and assistant professor at Brown Medicine, affiliated with Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. She has lived in the U.S. since 2018, initially on a J-1 student visa, completing fellowships at Ohio State University, the University of Washington, and the Yale Waterbury Internal Medicine Program. She transitioned to an H-1B visa, issued by the U.S. consulate in Beirut, which allowed her to work at Brown Medicine. This visa was reportedly valid until mid-2027.
- Detention and Deportation: Alawieh returned to the U.S. on March 13, 2025, after a two-week trip to Lebanon to visit family. Upon arrival at Boston Logan International Airport, she was detained by CBP for approximately 36 hours. On March 14, 2025, she was deported on an Air France flight to Paris, despite a federal court order issued that evening by U.S. District Judge Leo T. Sorokin requiring 48 hours’ notice before her removal.
- Court Involvement: Alawieh’s cousin, Yara Chehab, filed a petition in the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts on March 14, alleging unlawful detention “without justification” and lack of access to legal counsel. Judge Sorokin’s order aimed to halt her immediate deportation, but the plane took off regardless. A subsequent filing on March 15 accused CBP of “willfully disobeying” the order, prompting Sorokin to demand a government response by March 17. The government claimed CBP was unaware of the order until after Alawieh’s departure, leading Sorokin to cancel a planned hearing on March 17 and request further details by March 24.
- Evidence Cited by CBP: During questioning, Alawieh reportedly explained that the photos of Nasrallah and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei were deleted days before her return to avoid misperceptions, emphasizing their religious significance to Shia Muslims rather than political support. She acknowledged awareness of Hezbollah’s terrorist designation but maintained an apolitical stance.
- Community and Legal Response: Brown Medicine colleagues, including Dr. George Bayliss and Dr. Susie Hu, expressed outrage, highlighting Alawieh’s critical role as one of only three transplant nephrologists in Rhode Island. Her deportation has strained the kidney transplant clinic’s operations. Protests occurred on March 17 in Providence, with supporters decrying the lack of due process. Her attorney, Stephanie Marzouk, vowed to continue fighting for her return, arguing the government violated legal norms.
Discrepancies and Unresolved Questions
- Timing of the Court Order: The government insists CBP acted before receiving Sorokin’s order, but critics argue the timing—issued while the plane was on the tarmac—suggests either negligence or defiance.
- Evidence Threshold: The reliance on deleted photos and an admission of attending a public funeral (attended by tens of thousands) raises questions about the legal basis for deeming her inadmissible, especially given her valid visa and lack of criminal charges.
- Due Process: Alawieh was reportedly denied counsel during detention, fueling claims of procedural violations.
In summary, the official narrative centers on national security concerns tied to Hezbollah, while the facts reveal a rapid deportation process that overrode a judicial order, leaving her supporters questioning the balance between security and legal rights. The case remains under scrutiny, with further court developments expected.
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