Rasha Alawieh, an assistant professor at Brown University’s medical school, has now reportedly been deported to Lebanon after attending the funeral of Hassan Nasrallah, the former leader of Hezbollah.
Alawieh, a 34-year-old Lebanese citizen, was on an H-1B visa when she admitted her support for Nasrallah during a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspection.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that glorifying terrorists who harm Americans is grounds for visa denial.
Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in July, was labeled a “brutal terrorist” by DHS, responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Americans over decades.
Following Alawieh’s arrival back at Boston Logan International Airport, federal agents discovered photos of Nasrallah and Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, on her phone.
When questioned about why she deleted these photos shortly before her return, Alawieh claimed she wanted to avoid giving the impression that she supported Hezbollah.
Critics have expressed concerns over Alawieh’s position within academia. Liora Rez, Executive Director of StopAntisemitism, asserted that Alawieh should never be allowed around students or patients again.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Schanzer, Senior Vice President for Research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, questioned how universities can hire individuals with such affiliations.
In response to Alawieh’s deportation, her attorney, Stephanie Marzouk, stated they would continue fighting for her return to the U.S. to see her patients.
Alawieh’s deportation occurred before a judge could rule on her case, igniting debates over national security and the implications of free speech. Critics argue that foreign nationals who support terrorism do not have the right to remain in the United States.
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