Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a Lebanese citizen and kidney transplant specialist, was detained upon her arrival at Boston’s Logan International Airport on March 13, according to legal documents reviewed by ABC News. She held a valid H1B work visa, which had been issued on March 11, and was traveling to the United States to assume a faculty position at Brown University as an assistant professor of medicine.
Alawieh had previously trained at prestigious institutions, including the University of Washington and Yale University. Her detention raised concerns among her colleagues, particularly Brown University’s Division of Nephrology, where she was expected to fulfill critical responsibilities. The legal filing described the situation as highly disruptive, stating that her colleagues were covering for her duties, but that this was not a sustainable solution. It emphasized that Alawieh is an accomplished academic in Transplant Nephrology and that her presence was necessary for the institution.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not provide a reason for her detention, according to the legal documents. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) did not respond to ABC News’ inquiries regarding her status or the reasons for her inadmissibility. However, Hilton Beckham, CBP’s Assistant Commissioner of Public Affairs, issued a statement reinforcing that all arriving noncitizens are responsible for proving their eligibility to enter the United States. He explained that CBP officers follow strict screening protocols to identify and prevent potential threats, working with law enforcement partners to uphold national security.
A U.S. district court judge in Massachusetts intervened, ruling that Alawieh could not be deported without at least 48 hours’ notice and a stated reason from DHS. However, despite this court order, legal documents indicated that DHS proceeded with her deportation in violation of the directive. She was placed on a flight to France, where she was expected to board another flight to Lebanon. It remains unclear whether the deportation was carried out as scheduled.
