Brown Medicine Professor Deported Despite Court Order, Sparking Outrage Over CBP Actions

Dr. Rasha Alawieh, an assistant professor at Brown Medicine, was unexpectedly deported after returning to the United States from Lebanon despite holding a valid H-1B visa. According to a court petition filed on her behalf, she traveled to Lebanon to visit her family and had no issues with her visa status prior to her return.

However, upon arriving at Boston Logan International Airport, Alawieh was detained by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and held for 36 hours, ultimately being sent back to Lebanon over the weekend. This action was reportedly taken in violation of a federal judge’s order to halt her deportation.

Alawieh’s Detention Without Justification and CBP’s Alleged Violation of Court Order

The court petition outlined that Alawieh’s detention appeared to be without justification. During her detention, she was reportedly unreachable and unable to contact legal counsel. Customs and Border Protection did not provide any details regarding the reason for her detention, nor did they confirm the flight that returned her to Lebanon. This lack of transparency led to concerns about the handling of her case and the legality of her removal from the United States.

In response to the situation, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts issued an order on Friday, instructing that Alawieh should not be removed from the country without providing 48 hours’ notice and a clear reason for her deportation. The court intended to give time to consider the matter. However, despite this order, CBP proceeded with her removal, which led to the filing of a notice of court order violation.

The petition argued that CBP had full knowledge of the court’s directive and willfully ignored it, leading to calls for her immediate return to the U.S. and an emergency hearing.

Dr. Alawieh’s Distinguished Career and the Ongoing Legal Dispute Over Her Deportation

Dr. Alawieh, originally from Lebanon, has a distinguished medical career. She obtained her medical degree from the American University of Beirut in 2015 and completed her residency in 2018 at the American University of Beirut Medical Center. She then went on to complete programs at Ohio State University, the University of Washington, and the Yale Waterbury Internal Medicine Program before taking on her role as an assistant professor at Brown Medicine. Alawieh holds an H-1B visa for her position at Brown and had previously entered the U.S. on a J-1 visa in 2018.

The incident has sparked distress among Dr. Alawieh’s colleagues at Brown Medicine, particularly in the Division of Nephrology, where she holds significant responsibilities. Brown University has expressed concern over the situation but has refrained from sharing specific details about Alawieh’s personal circumstances. While an attorney confirmed that Alawieh is currently back in Lebanon, no further comments have been made. The next hearing on her case is scheduled for Monday morning, with further developments expected in the legal proceedings.