BOSTON, USA — A federal judge abruptly cancelled a court hearing Monday, March 17, 2025, after a Brown University assistant professor and doctor was deported over the weekend, despite an earlier court order requiring advance notice before her removal.
Rasha Alawieh, a 34-year-old nephrologist, was detained upon her arrival at Boston Logan International Airport last Thursday and sent back to Lebanon on Saturday.
Her deportation has sparked legal and political scrutiny, with concerns over whether Customs and Border Protection (CBP) ignored judicial authority.
US District Judge Leo Sorokin, an Obama appointee, canceled Monday’s hearing after receiving testimony that immigration officers at Logan Airport had not been informed of his order in time.
“Officers at Logan did not receive notice of the Court’s Order from their legal counsel until after Dr. Alawieh had already departed the United States,” Sorokin wrote in his order.
He also cited CBP’s response that the agency “would never fail to take a court order seriously” or “fail to abide by a court’s order”.
Deportation Amid Crackdown on Immigration
Alawieh’s detention and deportation come at a time when President Donald Trump’s administration has intensified immigration enforcement, targeting individuals with alleged visa irregularities, criminal ties, or security risks.
Her case follows the recent attempted deportation of Columbia University graduate and pro-Palestinian protest organizer Mahmoud Khalil, whose removal was blocked by a separate federal judge.
Over the weekend, the Trump administration also deported hundreds of migrants with alleged gang affiliations, despite a judge’s order barring their removal.
The White House defended the action, saying the court ruling came after the migrants had already left the US.
Alawieh’s Legal Status and Deportation Timeline
A Lebanese citizen who had been living in Rhode Island, Alawieh was approved for an H-1B visa last year to work in the Division of Nephrology at Brown University’s medical school.
She had previously studied at three US universities since 2018.
According to a federal complaint filed by her cousin, Yara Chehab, Alawieh traveled to Lebanon in February for what was expected to be a short visit but was delayed due to visa paperwork processing at the US Consulate in Beirut.
After securing the necessary documents on March 11, she returned to Boston Logan International Airport on March 13, where CBP detained her and informed her she would be deported the following day.
Her cousin filed an emergency court petition on March 15, stating that Alawieh was denied access to legal counsel and that CBP had not disclosed the reasons for her expedited removal.
Sorokin granted the petition, ordering that she not be removed from Massachusetts without 48 hours’ notice, but by that time, she had already been deported.
Legal and Political Fallout
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) condemned Alawieh’s deportation, calling it a violation of due process and an example of targeted discrimination.
“Deporting lawful immigrants like Dr. Alawieh without any basis undermines the rule of law and reinforces suspicion that our immigration system is turning into an anti-Muslim, white supremacist institution,” CAIR said in a statement.
Democratic Rep. Gabe Amo of Rhode Island said he was seeking answers from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) about her status.
“We are seeking to learn more about what has happened,” Brown University spokesperson Brian Clark said in a statement, adding that the university had issued travel guidance for its international students, staff, and faculty.
The guidance email warned visa holders and even permanent residents to “consider postponing or delaying personal travel outside the United States” until further clarification from the State Department.
CBP and White House Response
CBP has not publicly commented on the specifics of Alawieh’s deportation but defended its enforcement practices.
“Migrants bear the burden of establishing admissibility,” CBP spokesperson Hilton Beckham told Reuters, adding that border officers adhere to strict security protocols.
The White House has remained silent on Alawieh’s case but has emphasized that the administration is prioritizing national security concerns in its immigration enforcement efforts.
What Comes Next?
With Alawieh already removed from the US, it is unclear whether her legal team will continue challenging her deportation or seek a way to facilitate her return.
Judge Sorokin has not indicated whether CBP will face consequences for failing to comply with his order, and legal experts say this case raises serious constitutional and procedural questions about the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
For now, Alawieh remains in Lebanon, and her future in the United States remains uncertain.
