Brown University Doctor’s Deportation Draws Legal and Public Backlash

Dr. Rasha Alawieh was deported to Lebanon despite holding a valid visa and a court order to delay removal, prompting legal challenges and community protests.

Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a transplant nephrologist and assistant professor at Brown University, was deported to Lebanon on March 15, 2025, despite a federal judge's order to prevent her removal.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection cited photos and videos on her phone, including images of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, and her attendance at his funeral as reasons for her deportation.
The deportation has sparked protests in Rhode Island, with colleagues and community members emphasizing her critical role in the state’s healthcare system as one of only three transplant nephrologists.
The White House amplified criticism by mocking Dr. Alawieh’s deportation in a social media post, further polarizing public opinion on the administration’s immigration policies.
Legal proceedings are ongoing, with Dr. Alawieh’s attorneys challenging the deportation and seeking her return to the United States, as the government faces allegations of procedural violations.