US authorities confirmed that they deported Rasha Alawieh, a Rhode Island-based doctor and assistant professor at Brown University’s medical school, to Lebanon last week. Officials stated that they found “sympathetic photos and videos” of Hezbollah’s longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah and other militants in her phone’s deleted items folder.
Alleged Ties to Hezbollah
According to Reuters, Alawieh admitted to attending Nasrallah’s funeral last month. She told officials that she supported him from a “religious perspective” as a Shia Muslim. This discovery led to her detention and subsequent deportation.
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White House Reaction
Following her deportation, the White House reposted a Department of Homeland Security message on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Bye-bye Rasha,” along with an image of Donald Trump waving from a drive-thru window.
Detention and Legal Proceedings
Alawieh, a 34-year-old Lebanese national holding an H-1B visa, was detained on Thursday at Logan International Airport in Boston upon returning from a family visit to Lebanon. She remained in custody for at least 36 hours, according to a legal complaint.
On Friday, US District Judge Leo Sorokin ordered an in-person hearing for Monday and directed officials to bring Alawieh to court. However, by Saturday, a legal motion filed by her cousin accused customs officials of “willfully” ignoring the judge’s order and proceeding with her deportation.
