Dr. Rasha Alawieh’s Visa Revoked After DHS Cites “Commonsense Security” Over Ties to Hezbollah’s Nasrallah
A Brown University assistant professor and physician, Dr. Rasha Alawieh, was deported from the United States to Lebanon over the weekend after federal authorities alleged she attended the funeral of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and expressed support for the designated terrorist figure. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the deportation on Monday, citing Alawieh’s actions as a clear violation of U.S. visa standards.
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Dr. Rasha Alawieh, 34, traveled to Beirut last month to attend Nasrallah’s funeral on February 23, 2025, an event that drew thousands following his death in an Israeli airstrike in September 2024. Nasrallah, who led Hezbollah for over three decades, is held responsible by U.S. officials for the deaths of hundreds of Americans during the Iran-backed group’s violent campaigns. Hezbollah remains classified as a terrorist organization by the United States and several Western allies.
In an official statement, DHS underscored its stance: “A visa is a privilege not a right—glorifying and supporting terrorists who kill Americans is grounds for visa issuance to be denied. This is commonsense security.” The agency confirmed that Alawieh “openly admitted” to attending the funeral and supporting Nasrallah when questioned by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers upon her return to Boston Logan International Airport on March 13.
Additional Evidence Found
Federal agents reportedly uncovered additional evidence on Alawieh’s phone, including photos and videos sympathetic to Hezbollah figures like Nasrallah and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, some retrieved from her device’s deleted items folder. Alawieh, a kidney transplant specialist who joined Brown Medicine in July 2024 on an H-1B visa, had her visa privileges revoked following the investigation.
The deportation followed a contentious legal battle. On March 14, U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin issued an order temporarily barring Alawieh’s removal from the U.S. and requiring 48 hours’ notice before any transfer outside Massachusetts. Despite this, she was deported to Lebanon via Paris on March 15. Government attorneys later claimed CBP was not formally notified of the court order until after her departure—a point disputed by her legal team.
Alawieh reportedly told federal agents her support for Nasrallah was rooted in a “religious perspective” as a Shi’ite Muslim, not political ideology. She acknowledged Hezbollah’s terrorist designation but said her admiration was tied to Nasrallah’s spiritual role, according to sources familiar with the case. She also admitted to deleting files from her phone to avoid misinterpretation, though this did not alter DHS’s decision.
Legal Fight
Supporters rallied outside the Rhode Island Statehouse on March 17, brandishing signs like “Dr. Rasha Has Rights” and criticizing what they see as heavy-handed immigration enforcement by the Trump administration. Colleagues, including Dr. Paul Morrissey of Brown’s organ transplantation division, hailed her as a “first-class human being” whose absence will delay critical patient care. Critics, however, insist her actions posed a security risk, aligning with DHS’s firm position.
Alawieh’s attorney, Stephanie Marzouk, pledged to continue the legal fight, though Alawieh remains in Lebanon. A scheduled court hearing was canceled Monday after several attorneys withdrew, with the government given until March 24 to address allegations, and Alawieh’s counsel until March 31 to respond.
The White House amplified DHS’s message with a social media post captioned “Bye-bye, Rasha,” featuring President Donald Trump waving from a McDonald’s drive-thru.
