Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a Lebanese citizen and assistant professor at Brown University, was deported from the United States to Lebanon on March 17, 2025. This action occurred despite her holding a valid H-1B visa and a federal judge’s order that sought to prevent her immediate removal.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) justified the deportation by referencing photos and videos found on Dr. Alawieh’s phone that were sympathetic to Hezbollah leaders, including the late Hassan Nasrallah. Dr. Alawieh characterized her support as religious rather than political.
The deportation has drawn legal scrutiny, with U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin questioning whether DHS willfully violated the court’s order. This incident has intensified discussions about the administration’s adherence to judicial rulings concerning immigration enforcement.