Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a 34-year-old kidney transplant doctor and assistant professor at Brown University’s medical school, was deported from the United States to Lebanon. This action followed the discovery of “sympathetic photos and videos” of Hezbollah figures on her cellphone, according to federal prosecutors.
Discovery at Boston Airport
Dr. Alawieh, a kidney transplant specialist, had been residing in the U.S. since 2018 on a valid H-1B visa. She was detained at Boston’s Logan International Airport upon returning from a trip to Lebanon, where she had visited family and attended the funeral of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. During a routine inspection, Customs and Border Protection officers discovered images and videos of Nasrallah and other prominent Hezbollah figures in the deleted items folder of her cellphone. When questioned, Dr. Alawieh stated that her support for Nasrallah was from a “religious perspective” as a Shia Muslim, emphasizing that it was not political.
Hezbollah’s Designation and U.S. Response
Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has been designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. Department of State since 1997. The group’s involvement in regional conflicts and its anti-American stance have made any affiliation or support a significant concern for U.S. authorities. The Department of Homeland Security commented on the deportation, stating, “A visa is a privilege, not a right—glorifying and supporting terrorists who kill Americans is grounds for visa issuance to be denied.” They further emphasized that this action was a matter of “commonsense security.”
Legal Proceedings and Controversy
The deportation has sparked legal debates, particularly regarding the process. A federal judge had issued an order requiring 48 hours’ notice before Dr. Alawieh’s removal. However, CBP proceeded with the deportation, citing that they had not received formal notification of the court order before her departure. CBP official John Wallace stated that the agency “did not receive the court’s orders until after the flight departed the United States.”
The Department of Homeland Security issued a statement: “Last month, Rasha Alawieh traveled to Beirut, Lebanon, to attend the funeral of Hassan Nasrallah— a brutal terrorist who led Hezbollah, responsible for killing hundreds of Americans over a four-decade terror spree. Alawieh openly admitted to this to CBP officers, as well as her support of Nasrallah.
A visa is a privilege not a right-glorifying and supporting terrorists who kill Americans is grounds for visa issuance to be denied. This is commonsense security.”
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