In a decisive move, the Department of Justice has deported Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a Brown University assistant professor, from the United States. This action took place at Boston Logan International Airport on Thursday, following the discovery of “sympathetic photos and videos” of Hezbollah leaders on her phone.
Dr. Alawieh, who hails from Lebanon, confessed to U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents that she had attended the funeral of Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, during a recent visit to Lebanon. Nasrallah was eliminated in a targeted strike by Israel in September 2024, a decisive blow against terrorism’s dark forces.
According to Politico, Alawieh claimed her attendance and support were religious, not political. Yet, such affiliations raise significant security alarms.
“Arriving aliens bear the burden of establishing admissibility to the United States. Our CBP officers adhere to strict protocols to identify and stop threats, using rigorous screening, vetting, strong law enforcement partnerships, and keen inspectional skills to keep threats out of the country. CBP is committed to protecting the United States from national security threats.”
— Hilton Beckham, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
The Department of Homeland Security elaborated, emphasizing the seriousness of Alawieh’s actions. They stated, “Last month, Rasha Alawieh traveled to Beirut, Lebanon, to attend the funeral of Hassan Nasrallah— a brutal terrorist who led Hezbollah, responsible for killing hundreds of Americans over a four-decade terror spree. Alawieh openly admitted to this to CBP officers, as well as her support of Nasrallah.”
Last month, Rasha Alawieh traveled to Beirut, Lebanon, to attend the funeral of Hassan Nasrallah— a brutal terrorist who led Hezbollah, responsible for killing hundreds of Americans over a four-decade terror spree. Alawieh openly admitted to this to CBP officers, as well as her…
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov)
March 17, 2025
Despite U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin’s original order for an in-person hearing, federal agents proceeded with Alawieh’s deportation. Her removal occurred before Sorokin, appointed by Obama, postponed the hearing to investigate potential procedural oversights.
According to Fox News, Sorokin had mandated a 48-hour notice before deportation, which was not observed. Consequently, Alawieh was flown to Paris and then back to Lebanon over the weekend, prompting the judge to reschedule the hearing for March 25.
Customs and Border Protection’s John Wallace noted in his affidavit that the deportation order was not communicated through the expected channels, leading to the procedural misstep reported by Politico.
In light of these events, Alawieh’s legal team has withdrawn from the case, citing “due diligence,” as reported by CBS Boston. This term signifies the thorough investigation required before action—something the team deemed necessary in this high-stakes scenario.
Hearing canceled for Brown University doctor Rasha Alawieh deported to Lebanon. Her lawyers withdrew as a result of ‘due diligence’ “Due diligence” used in contexts to refer to the process of investigating and verifying information before making a decision or taking an action
— Joni Job (@jj_talking)
March 17, 2025
