Controversy Erupts as Doctor with H-1B Visa Deported Over Alleged Support for Hezbollah
A firestorm of debate has ignited over the deportation of Rasha Alawieh, a Brown University assistant professor and physician, to Lebanon. Federal authorities assert that Alawieh, despite holding a valid H-1B visa, exhibited support for Hezbollah and attended the funeral of a prominent leader within the organization, Hassan Nasrallah. Nasrallah is accused of leading Hezbollah during a period marked by attacks that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Americans over several decades.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a statement outlining the basis for Alawieh’s deportation. According to Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, Alawieh openly admitted to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers her attendance at Nasrallah’s funeral and her general support for the organization. McLaughlin emphasized that a visa is a privilege, not a right, and that glorifying individuals responsible for violence against Americans constitutes grounds for visa denial.
Further underscoring the government’s position, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Assistant Commissioner of Public Affairs Hilton Beckham stated that foreign nationals who promote extremist ideologies or disseminate terrorist propaganda are deemed inadmissible to the U.S. Beckham affirmed that CBP maintains the authority to deny entry even to individuals holding visas, emphasizing the rigorous security checks conducted at ports of entry. He noted that CBP officers are instructed to deny entry to those who glorify terrorist organizations, advocate violence, or openly support terrorist leaders and commemorate their deaths. Individuals found possessing extremist materials linked to U.S.-designated terrorist groups are subject to immediate removal.
Alawieh, a 34-year-old kidney transplant specialist residing in Rhode Island, was detained at Boston Logan International Airport upon her return from a trip to Lebanon. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Sady stated in a court filing that Alawieh allegedly confirmed to federal agents her attendance at Nasrallah’s funeral. Politico and The Providence Journal, who reported on the contents of the filing before it was sealed, revealed that Alawieh purportedly expressed support for Nasrallah from a religious perspective, while denying political alignment.
Federal authorities further revealed that a search of Alawieh’s phone uncovered "sympathetic photos and videos" of Hezbollah leaders, as well as materials depicting various other Hezbollah militants stored in a deleted folder. DOJ lawyers stated that this discovery led CBP to question Alawieh’s true intentions within the United States. Consequently, CBP revoked her visa and declared her inadmissible to the country.
U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin, an Obama appointee, intervened by ordering an in-person hearing regarding Alawieh’s case and stipulating that she not be deported for at least 48 hours without prior notification to the court. Despite this order, Alawieh was reportedly placed on a flight to Paris and subsequently arrived in Lebanon over the weekend.
Sorokin later postponed the scheduled hearing to provide the DOJ with additional time to respond to allegations that federal agents disregarded the court’s order in deporting Alawieh. CBP official John Wallace claimed in an affidavit that federal agents were not properly notified of the court order before Alawieh was placed on the Air France flight.
Alawieh’s journey to the United States began in 2018 when she pursued a nephrology fellowship at Ohio State University. She subsequently completed fellowships at the University of Washington and an internal medicine program at Yale. Her cousin, Yara Chehab, filed a federal lawsuit and attempted to intervene in court during Alawieh’s detention at the airport. The lawsuit indicates that Brown Medicine sponsored Alawieh for an H-1B visa to work as an assistant professor.
A Brown University spokesperson issued a statement indicating the university’s intention to gather more information about the situation. The spokesperson clarified that Alawieh is an employee of Brown Medicine, a not-for-profit medical practice affiliated with Brown University’s Warren Alpert Medical School but not operated by the university itself. Alawieh was issued an H-1B visa on March 11 to pursue an assistant professor of medicine and clinician educator role at Brown University. The lawsuit asserts that she had worked for Brown prior to the issuance of her current H-1B visa.
The case has raised critical questions about the balance between national security concerns, freedom of expression, and due process. Legal experts are divided on the legality and ethical implications of the deportation, particularly in light of the court order and the allegations of procedural irregularities.
The incident has also triggered broader discussions regarding the vetting process for H-1B visa holders and the criteria used to determine admissibility to the United States. Critics of the deportation argue that Alawieh’s alleged support for Hezbollah, even if confirmed, does not necessarily constitute a credible threat to national security, and that her deportation sets a dangerous precedent for restricting academic freedom and freedom of association. Conversely, supporters of the deportation emphasize the importance of safeguarding national security and preventing individuals who may harbor extremist views from entering the country.
The case remains ongoing, with the rescheduled hearing expected to shed further light on the circumstances surrounding Alawieh’s deportation and the actions of federal agents. The outcome of the legal proceedings could have significant implications for future immigration enforcement policies and the rights of visa holders in the United States. The controversy surrounding Alawieh’s deportation underscores the complex and often contentious intersection of immigration law, national security, and individual liberties.
