In a recent development, Homeland Security officials clarified on Monday that a Lebanese doctor was deported over the weekend despite holding a valid U.S. visa. The authorities stated that Dr. Rasha Alawieh “openly admitted” to supporting a Hezbollah leader and attending his funeral.
The statement, shared on social media, provides insight into Alawieh’s deportation, which has caused significant concern, especially after a federal judge intervened to prevent the removal until a scheduled hearing. According to government lawyers, customs officers only received the judge’s order after Alawieh had already been deported to Lebanon.
“A visa is a privilege, not a right — glorifying and supporting terrorists who harm Americans warrants denial of visa issuance. This is basic security,” as stated by Homeland Security officials.
The incident follows other deportations of individuals with U.S. visas, such as Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, who protested against the Gaza war at Columbia University, in addition to actions against a doctoral student. Similarly, hundreds were relocated to El Salvador by the previous administration, despite judicial orders temporarily halting such deportations.
Alawieh’s lawyer, Stephanie Marzouk, asserted her commitment to fight for the 34-year-old doctor’s return to the U.S. to continue her work with patients. Marzouk refrained from directly commenting on the allegations of Alawieh supporting a Hezbollah leader.
Certain court documents remain confidential, with the Justice Department providing specific reasons for Alawieh’s deportation within those sealed records. Nevertheless, some media outlets released details asserting that Alawieh held pictures on her phone of Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah, and images of Hezbollah members and fallen fighters, before the records were officially sealed.
Court documents indicated that Alawieh follows Nasrallah for “religious and spiritual teachings, not for his political stance.” When queried about why she deleted those photos prior to her arrival in Boston, Alawieh allegedly explained that she aimed to avoid misinterpretations while stating, “I know I’m not involved in anything political or military.”
Alawieh acquired her visa on March 11 and arrived at Boston Logan International Airport last Thursday, as per a federal complaint filed by a cousin. A kidney transplant specialist who previously resided and worked in Rhode Island, Alawieh was held for at least 36 hours and was set to join Brown University as an assistant professor of medicine.
U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin ordered a hearing set for Monday, demanding Alawieh’s presence in court. However, a motion filed by her cousin on Saturday accused customs officials of “willful” defiance of the order by sending her back to Lebanon. The government’s attorneys, filing a court motion on Monday, argued that Boston airport officials were uninformed of the judicial order prior to her departure. Consequently, they pursued dismissal of the petition.
Alawieh was previously affiliated with Brown under an H1B visa, having completed fellowships and residencies at multiple U.S. universities. A Brown spokesperson confirmed her employment with Brown Medicine, a separate medical entity closely associated with Brown University’s medical school.
On Monday, some of Alawieh’s colleagues gathered in support outside Boston’s federal courthouse. Dr. Susie Hu remarked on Alawieh’s pivotal role as one of Rhode Island’s three transplant nephrologists. Dr. Douglas Shemin, from Brown Medicine, highlighted her dedication and professionalism.
Brown Medicine reportedly has approximately 300 to 400 patients awaiting kidney transplants, who require regular assessments.
Supporting the doctor, over 100 people rallied outside the Rhode Island Statehouse, holding signs asserting her rights. Dr. Paul Morrissey, overseeing the organ transplantation division at Brown, lamented the negative impact her deportation would have on patient care.
University student Kai Blades condemned the deportation, linking it to broader political repression. Speaking at the rally, Blades denounced the use of state terror against Alawieh and others like Mahmoud Khalil, affirming community solidarity and resistance.
Dr. Mindy Saboda, an internal medicine colleague, noted that Alawieh was returning to the U.S. after a six-year interval visit to her family in Lebanon. Her daughter, Ada Sobota-Walden, expressed concern over the deportation, urging action to prevent recurrence.
In another case, Mahmoud Khalil’s legal team sought his release from a Louisiana detainment center or his return to New York, arguing in Manhattan federal court that such measures aim to silence noncitizens and discourage their dissent against U.S. policies.