Dr. Rasha Alawieh, an esteemed assistant professor at Brown Medicine and a Lebanese citizen, was deported from the United States despite holding a valid H-1B visa. This event has raised significant legal concerns and drawn attention to the treatment of legal visa holders by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Dr. Alawieh was initially detained at Boston Logan International Airport, where she was held for 36 hours without access to legal counsel before being sent back to Lebanon.
Dr. Alawieh's journey in the U.S. began in 2018 when she entered on a J-1 visa to pursue advanced medical programs. She completed her studies at Ohio State University, the University of Washington, and the Yale Waterbury Internal Medicine Program after obtaining her medical degree from the American University of Beirut in 2015 and completing her residency there in 2018. Her recent deportation has sparked legal actions, including a court petition filed by her cousin requesting her immediate return to Massachusetts.
A court order was issued stating that Dr. Alawieh should not be removed from the state without 48 hours’ notice and a valid reason. However, this order was reportedly ignored by CBP, as highlighted in a notice of court order violation filed on Saturday, which stated that CBP "had actual notice of this Court’s order and willfully disobeyed this Court’s order."
The Division of Nephrology at Brown Medicine expressed concern over Dr. Alawieh's absence, stating, "She is an assistant professor and has serious responsibilities. Her colleagues have been covering for her, but that is no solution." This sentiment underscores the impact of her deportation on her professional obligations and highlights the strain placed on her colleagues during her absence.
CBP has defended its actions by emphasizing its protocols and responsibilities. Hilton Beckham, CBP’s assistant commissioner of public affairs, stated, "Our CBP Officers adhere to strict protocols to identify and stop threats, using rigorous screening, vetting, strong law enforcement partnerships, and keen inspectional skills to keep threats out of the country."
Meanwhile, Brown University is attempting to gather more information about Dr. Alawieh's situation. Brian Clark, a spokesperson for the university, remarked, "seeking to learn more about what has happened, but we need to be careful about sharing information publicly about any individual’s personal circumstances."