Overview

• Dr. Rasha Alawieh was deported to Lebanon after U.S. officials found photos of Hezbollah leaders on her phone and learned she attended a funeral for the group's late leader, Hassan Nasrallah.
• A federal judge issued an order to halt her deportation, but immigration officials claimed they received the notice after her removal had already occurred.
• The deportation has sparked protests in Rhode Island, with colleagues and immigration advocates criticizing the decision and highlighting its impact on healthcare access for patients in need of specialized care.
• Brown University has issued a travel warning to its international community, citing increased risks for visa holders under heightened immigration scrutiny.
• The Trump administration defends the decision, citing national security concerns and asserting that visa holders with perceived ties to extremist groups are inadmissible to the U.S.