Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a specialized kidney doctor affiliated with Brown Medicine, faced a shocking deportation from Logan Airport last week, despite holding a valid visa. The incident unfolded when customs officials discovered what they described as 'sympathetic' photos and videos of Hezbollah leaders on her cell phone, leading to immediate questioning and the cancellation of her visa.
In court documents filed on Monday, the federal government detailed how Dr. Alawieh, a 34-year-old resident of Providence, Rhode Island, was interrogated by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers upon her return from a two-week visit to Lebanon. During this trip, she attended a commemoration for the late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike on September 27, 2024. Alawieh’s colleagues have defended her character, emphasizing that she rarely discussed politics and was regarded as an exceptional doctor.
The court filings revealed that when questioned by CBP, Dr. Alawieh admitted to following the religious teachings of Hassan Nasrallah but insisted that her interest was not political. She explained that the photos of Nasrallah and Iranian cleric Ali Khamenei found on her phone were deleted just days before her return flight to Boston. She expressed her intention behind the deletion, stating, “I didn’t want to give the perception I supported Hezbollah.”
The Department of Homeland Security weighed in on the issue, asserting that glorifying and supporting terrorists is sufficient grounds for visa denial. A spokesperson emphasized that a visa is a privilege, not a right, and that any individual promoting extremist ideologies is subject to removal from the U.S.
The deportation raised significant legal questions, especially since Dr. Alawieh was traveling on a valid H-1B visa. Court documents indicated that a judge had ordered authorities to provide an explanation for her deportation, particularly given that they had been instructed to give 48 hours' notice before taking action. The initial hearing, scheduled for Monday, was postponed to allow the government to address the allegations adequately.
Dr. Alawieh’s colleagues, including Dr. Susie Hu, the interim director of Brown Medicine’s Division of Kidney Transplant & Hypertension, rallied in her support, underscoring her dedication to her patients and her professional competence. They noted that Dr. Alawieh is one of the few nephrologists in Rhode Island and is crucial to the care of approximately 1,300 patients enrolled in the kidney transplant program. Dr. Hu emphasized that the photographs found on Alawieh's phone should not be misconstrued as evidence of her being a terrorist sympathizer.
The circumstances surrounding Dr. Rasha Alawieh's deportation remain contentious, with ongoing legal proceedings and public debate about the implications of her case. While the federal government maintains that CBP acted within their authority, supporters of Dr. Alawieh continue to advocate for her reinstatement, emphasizing her valuable contributions to the medical community in Rhode Island. The case highlights the complex intersection of immigration policy, national security, and individual rights.
