Overview

• Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a transplant nephrologist and assistant professor at Brown University, was deported to Lebanon on March 15, 2025, despite a federal judge's order to prevent her removal.
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection cited photos and videos on her phone, including images of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, and her attendance at his funeral as reasons for her deportation.
• The deportation has sparked protests in Rhode Island, with colleagues and community members emphasizing her critical role in the state’s healthcare system as one of only three transplant nephrologists.
• The White House amplified criticism by mocking Dr. Alawieh’s deportation in a social media post, further polarizing public opinion on the administration’s immigration policies.
• Legal proceedings are ongoing, with Dr. Alawieh’s attorneys challenging the deportation and seeking her return to the United States, as the government faces allegations of procedural violations.