Sayles Hall can be found at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. A Brown University assistant professor and doctor was recently deported from Boston to Lebanon after federal agents discovered photos of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Iran’s supreme leader on her cell phone, according to a source familiar with the case. Dr. Rasha Alawieh, 34, was questioned by federal agents at Boston Logan International Airport upon her return from a visit to Lebanon. She admitted to attending Nasrallah’s funeral and expressed admiration for him as a religious leader, although she distanced herself from his political views. Alawieh also acknowledged that Hezbollah is considered a terrorist organization.
Her deportation has sparked controversy, with her family’s attorney vowing to fight for her return to the US. The Department of Homeland Security characterized Nasrallah as a terrorist responsible for the deaths of many Americans. Alawieh’s expulsion comes amid the Trump administration’s efforts to tighten immigration policies and increase deportations. A court hearing regarding her deportation was abruptly canceled by a federal judge, who had previously ordered immigration officials to provide advance notice before her removal.
A court document filed on behalf of Dr. Alawieh by her cousin, Yara Chehab, stated that officers at Logan Airport were not informed of the court order until after Dr. Alawieh had left the United States. The court order, issued by Judge Sorokin, had stipulated that Dr. Alawieh should not be moved outside of the District of Massachusetts without 48 hours’ advance notice to the Court. The hearing scheduled for Monday was postponed at the request of Chehab’s attorney after other lawyers withdrew from the case. These attorneys did not respond to CNN’s requests for comment.
Dr. Alawieh, a Lebanese citizen living in Rhode Island, had been approved for an H-1B visa to work at Brown University’s medical school. After traveling to Lebanon in February and encountering delays in returning due to visa paperwork, she was detained upon arrival in Boston. Customs and Border Protection did not provide reasons for her detention and expedited removal.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations believes that Dr. Alawieh was unjustly deported and criticized the immigration system for its treatment of Muslims and people of color. Representative Gabe Amo of Rhode Island is seeking answers from the Department of Homeland Security regarding Dr. Alawieh’s situation.
Brown University issued travel guidance for its international community members, advising caution and potential delays in personal travel outside the United States. CNN contributor Dakin Andone contributed to this report.
