Boston, MA — In a perplexing turn of events, Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a Lebanese physician employed at Brown Medicine in Rhode Island, found herself detained and subsequently removed from the United States despite holding a valid H1-B visa. This incident occurred at Boston Logan Airport last week, after Alawieh returned from visiting family in Lebanon.
Thomas Brown, Alawieh’s attorney, disclosed the challenging circumstances surrounding his client’s unexpected deportation. Alawieh faced detainment on Thursday upon arriving at the airport, despite no clear reason provided for the action. A court order on Friday intended to stop her deportation seemed ineffectual as she was swiftly placed on a plane destined for Paris on her route back to Lebanon.
Detailing her academic and professional background, Alawieh, 34, serves as an assistant professor in Brown Medicine’s Division of Kidney Disease and Hypertension. She has been instrumental in evaluating kidney transplant recipients and managing their follow-ups. Since moving to the U.S. six years ago for advanced study, Alawieh has completed several prestigious fellowships at Ohio State University, the University of Washington, and Yale University.
Furthermore, Brown confirmed that Alawieh has been lawfully residing in the U.S. on a sponsored H1-B visa anticipated to remain valid through mid-2027. Her significant responsibilities and commitments at Brown Medicine underscore her critical role within the medical community—an aspect painfully noted by all who are professionally affiliated with her.
The action against Alawieh has ignited concern and outrage among her colleagues and the broader medical community. Dr. George Bayliss, the medical director of Brown’s organ transplant division, expressed his dismay over the incident, highlighting the loss of a qualified physician who legally met all prerequisites for her position in the U.S.
Public health scientist and epidemiologist Eric Feigl-Ding also voiced his unease on social media, emphasizing the injustice of deporting a highly skilled transplant surgeon who has committed no crimes and whose professional expertise is vital.
The enforcement actions that led to Alawieh’s deportation are part of a broader trend seen in recent weeks, where numerous deportations occur amidst claims of ignored court orders and a lack of transparency. This includes the recent deportation of 250 Venezuelans alleged to be gang members, which proceeded despite a federal judge’s temporary order halting such removals.
Compounding the legal complexities, it’s reported that a district judge’s directive to provide 48 hours’ notice prior to moving Alawieh out of Massachusetts was not communicated in time to halt her departure.
The situation remains fluid and deeply concerning for all involved, not least for Alawieh’s patients and colleagues who are reeling from her abrupt removal. This incident raises substantive questions about due process and fairness in the implementation of immigration law and policy.
As discussions continue and advocacy efforts are mobilized, the exact sequence of events and justification for Alawieh’s detention and subsequent deportation remain shrouded in uncertainty. How this situation unfolds will undoubtedly bear implications for the intersection of immigration policy and professional visas in the U.S.
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