Brown University Doctor Deported Despite Court Order

Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a Lebanese transplant nephrologist, was deported under national security claims, prompting legal challenges and community outcry.

Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a Lebanese citizen and assistant professor at Brown University, was deported to Lebanon despite holding a valid H-1B visa and a federal court order blocking her removal.
U.S. authorities cited photos and videos on her phone, including images of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, and her attendance at his funeral as grounds for her deportation.
The White House amplified the deportation with a controversial social media post mocking Alawieh, sparking further criticism of the administration's actions.
Protests erupted in Rhode Island, with colleagues and community members emphasizing Alawieh’s critical role as one of three transplant nephrologists in the state.
Legal proceedings are ongoing, with Alawieh’s attorneys seeking her return to the U.S. and the government facing allegations of violating the court order.