Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a Lebanese physician and assistant professor at Brown University, was deported from the United States to Lebanon despite holding a valid U.S. work visa and a court order blocking her removal. Authorities cited “sympathetic photos and videos” of Hezbollah figures found on her phone and her attendance at the funeral of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah as grounds for deportation. Dr. Alawieh explained that her support was religious rather than political.
The deportation occurred before a scheduled court hearing, leading to allegations of defying judicial orders. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials claimed they had not received formal notification of the court order before proceeding with her removal.
This incident has raised concerns within the academic community, prompting Brown University to issue travel advisories to its international students and faculty. The university expressed alarm over the deportation and is seeking more information about the circumstances surrounding Dr. Alawieh’s removal.