Brown University Professor Deported Over Hezbollah Photos

Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a Lebanese doctor and assistant professor at Brown University, was deported after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) discovered 'sympathetic photos and videos' of Hezbollah leaders on her phone upon her arrival at Boston Logan Airport. The Department of Justice alleged that Alawieh, who held a valid U.S. visa, had deep ties to Hezbollah, though her family claimed her rights were violated during the deportation process. Alawieh defended her actions by stating that the photos were related to religious respect rather than political affiliation, having attended the funeral of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah for spiritual reasons. Despite a federal judge's order to postpone her deportation pending a court hearing, she was removed from the U.S., leading to questions about the government’s adherence to legal procedures. CBP has stated that it is the immigrant's responsibility to prove their admissibility and has not specified the exact threat Alawieh allegedly posed. The case has prompted legal action from her family, who are challenging the deportation as unjust.