DHS Detains Lebanese Doctor with Work Visa Upon Arrival in the U.S.

Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a Lebanese doctor with a valid H1B work visa hired by Brown University, was detained at Logan Airport on March 13. Legal documents reveal distress within her department due to her absence, and DHS provided no reason for her detention. Despite a court order preventing her deportation without notice, DHS reportedly deported her to France. A hearing is scheduled for Monday.

On March 13, Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a Lebanese doctor holding a valid H1B work visa, was detained at Boston’s Logan International Airport while en route to teach at Brown University. Alawieh, an assistant professor of medicine with expertise in kidney transplants, previously trained at the University of Washington and Yale University. Legal documents revealed that her employer’s Division of Nephrology expressed serious concerns regarding her detention, emphasizing her importance to the department.

The legal filings noted that Dr. Alawieh’s colleagues, distressed over her absence, were forced to fill in for her responsibilities, indicating her critical role at Brown Medicine. Despite having a valid visa, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not provide an explanation for her detention. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) declined to comment on her current status or the reasons for her denied entry.

Hilton Beckham, CBP’s Assistant Commissioner of Public Affairs, stated that it is the responsibility of arriving aliens to prove their admissibility into the U.S. He emphasized the agency’s commitment to national security through strict vetting and inspection protocols. Furthermore, a U.S. district court judge mandated that Alawieh could not be deported without prior notice and justification from DHS.

Despite this judicial order, DHS allegedly ignored the requirement and deported her to France, from where she was purportedly scheduled to continue to Lebanon, although it remains uncertain if this deportation was executed as planned. A subsequent hearing regarding her case is set for Monday morning.

The detention of Dr. Rasha Alawieh raises important questions about immigration protocols and the treatment of foreign professionals in the United States. Her case underscores the challenges faced by individuals arriving with valid work visas, particularly in the academic field. The upcoming hearing will likely determine the next steps in resolving her situation and highlight the need for transparency and adherence to legal orders regarding deportation procedures.

Original Source: abcnews.go.com