Dr. Rasha Alawieh deported after admitting support for Hezbollah leader
- Dr. Rasha Alawieh was detained at Boston Logan International Airport upon her return from Beirut.
- During questioning, she admitted to attending the funeral of Hezbollah leader and expressed support for him.
- Her deportation has raised national concerns and sparked discussions regarding the U.S. visa and immigration process.
Homeland Security deported Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a Lebanese doctor and assistant professor at Brown University, shortly after she returned from Lebanon. She admitted during questioning at Boston Logan International Airport that she attended the funeral of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and expressed support for him. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials found images of Nasrallah on her phone, which raised concerns about her intentions in the United States. Alawieh had been detained for over 36 hours before being flown back to Lebanon, with her deportation igniting a controversy regarding the decision-making processes regarding visa holders. A U.S. District Judge ordered that Alawieh should not be removed until a hearing occurred, but officials claimed they were unaware of the order until after her departure. Alawieh has previously worked and lived in the U.S. since 2018.