Deported Doctor Rasha Alawieh Attended Hezbollah Leader's Funeral, D.H.S. Confirms

Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a Lebanese kidney transplant specialist with a valid visa, was deported from the U.S. upon her arrival at Boston Logan International Airport after Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials discovered her attendance at the funeral of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. During interrogation, Alawieh admitted to supporting Nasrallah, which led to the cancellation of her visa and a five-year entry bar due to her perceived connections to a designated terrorist organization. Alawieh's legal team filed an emergency habeas corpus petition to halt her deportation; however, she was already on a flight to Paris by the time a federal judge issued an order preventing her removal. Homeland Security officials emphasized that glorifying terrorists is grounds for visa denial, while Alawieh's lawyer argued for her return to the U.S. to continue her medical practice. Brown University expressed concern over her deportation, highlighting her essential role in the local medical community. The case raises questions about the intersection of immigration enforcement and individuals' political or religious affiliations.