Dr. Rasha Alawieh, an assistant professor at Brown Medicine, was deported upon returning to the U.S. from Lebanon despite holding a valid H-1B visa. According to a court petition filed on her behalf, she was detained at Boston Logan International Airport for 36 hours before being sent back to Lebanon. This occurred in violation of a federal judge’s order, which had halted her deportation to allow for legal proceedings.
Legal Violations and CBP’s Justification Spark Concerns Over Due Process Rights
The petition alleged that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) detained Alawieh without providing any justification, denying her access to legal counsel and any form of contact. The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts had ordered that she should not be removed without a 48-hour notice and an explanation, but CBP proceeded with her deportation regardless. A notice of court order violation was subsequently filed, accusing CBP of willfully ignoring the judge’s ruling.
Brown Medicine Professor Deported Despite Court Order, Raising Due Process ConcernsCBP defended its actions, stating that individuals arriving in the U.S. bear the burden of proving their admissibility. Hilton Beckham, CBP’s assistant commissioner of public affairs, emphasized that officers follow strict protocols to identify threats and ensure border security. However, the lack of transparency in Alawieh’s case has raised concerns, particularly among legal experts and her colleagues at Brown Medicine.
Academic Achievements and Legal Battle Amid Deportation Controversy
Alawieh, a Lebanese citizen, obtained her medical degree from the American University of Beirut in 2015 and completed her residency in 2018. Since moving to the U.S. on a J-1 visa, she has trained at institutions such as Ohio State University, the University of Washington, and Yale before joining Brown Medicine as an assistant professor. Her sudden deportation has disrupted her professional responsibilities, with her colleagues struggling to cover her workload.
Brown University expressed concern over the situation but refrained from publicly discussing individual cases. The university is investigating the matter further. Meanwhile, legal efforts to challenge Alawieh’s deportation are ongoing, with a request for her immediate return to Massachusetts and an emergency hearing scheduled for Monday morning. The case highlights potential issues with immigration enforcement and compliance with judicial orders.