Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a Lebanese kidney-transplant specialist with a valid H-1B visa, was detained and deported from Logan Airport despite a court order preventing her removal. U.S. Customs and Border Protection cited evidence found on her phone indicating sympathy for Hezbollah as the reason for her deportation. The incident sparked legal complications as federal court Judge Leo T. Sorokin demanded an explanation after she was removed within 24 hours, casting doubt on the adherence to judicial processes during deportations.
Federal authorities say they deported a Lebanese doctor holding an American visa last week after finding "sympathetic photos and videos" of prominent Hezbollah figures in the deleted items folder of her cell phone.
Despite a court order temporarily blocking her deportation, Dr. Alawieh was put on a flight to Paris the day after her detention, highlighting serious questions about the enforcement of legal proceedings.
A CBP official stated that their officers use rigorous screening and vetting to identify threats, yet the rapid deportation of Dr. Alawieh raises concerns about the application of these protocols.
Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a kidney-transplant specialist, was abruptly removed from the U.S. post-return from Lebanon, invoking critical discussions on immigration policy and the justice system's integrity.
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