PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the deportation of Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a kidney transplant specialist from Lebanon, who was deported from Boston’s Logan Airport earlier this year despite holding a valid visa. Immigration officials cited her support for Hezbollah and her attendance at the funeral of Hassan Nasrallah as grounds for her removal.
In March, Dr. Alawieh was detained for over 36 hours after arriving from Lebanon with her family. During her detention, authorities reviewed her phone and found images linked to Hezbollah, prompting a swift deportation.
Alawieh's legal team quickly worked to challenge the deportation, stating that she only attended the funeral for spiritual reasons and that while some family members supported Hezbollah, her professional credentials should not be compromised by her family's beliefs.
Despite the urgency of her case, U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin ruled that he lacked the authority to overturn the five-year ban on her re-entry to the U.S., resulting from her expedited removal order. He noted that recent Supreme Court rulings have limited judicial intervention in such immigration matters, reinforcing the powers of immigration officials in expedited deportation cases.
In his ruling, Sorokin clarified, “This Court simply cannot issue in this habeas action the orders Alawieh hopes to obtain,” underscoring the legal constraints faced by deportees seeking relief from courts. As the family continues to seek further legal avenues, the situation remains a contentious point in immigration debates across the nation.
An email has been sent to Alawieh’s attorneys for further comments on the case.
