Brown University Doctor Deported Despite Court Order Blocking Removal

Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a 34-year-old Rhode Island physician and assistant professor at Brown University’s medical school, has been deported to Lebanon despite a judge’s order halting her removal.

Alawieh, a Lebanese citizen, had held a U.S. visa since 2018, completing fellowships at Ohio State University, the University of Washington, and Yale-Waterbury Internal Medicine Program. The U.S. consulate in Lebanon recently issued her an H-1B visa to work at Brown University. However, after arriving at Boston’s Logan International Airport last Thursday, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) detained her without explanation, according to a lawsuit filed by her cousin, Yara Chehab.

In response, U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin ordered CBP to delay Alawieh’s removal and bring her to a court hearing on Monday. However, despite this ruling, she was reportedly flown to Paris and then set to travel to Lebanon. The judge has since demanded a legal explanation from the government and ordered the preservation of all relevant documents.

The incident raises concerns about whether the Trump administration is complying with court rulings amid increased immigration restrictions. A CBP spokesperson stated that officers follow strict protocols to determine admissibility.

Alawieh’s case is expected to be reviewed in federal court in Boston, where officials will determine whether CBP intentionally disregarded the judge’s order.