Mon Mar 17 10:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Brown University Professor Detained and Deported Despite Court Order
**Boston, MA –** A Brown University kidney transplant specialist and professor, Dr. Rasha Alawieh, was deported from the United States on Friday, despite possessing a valid visa and a temporary court order preventing her expulsion. The 34-year-old Lebanese citizen was detained upon her return from a family visit to Lebanon.
A court complaint filed by Dr. Alawieh’s cousin alleges that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) defied a Friday evening order from Judge Leo T. Sorokin of the Federal District Court in Massachusetts, which mandated 48 hours’ notice before any deportation. Instead, Dr. Alawieh was reportedly put on a flight to Paris, presumably en route to Lebanon.
Judge Sorokin expressed serious concerns in a subsequent order, suggesting CBP willfully disobeyed the court. He stated that his actions were in line with established district practice and demanded a response to the “serious allegations” of contempt. CBP has yet to publicly comment on the matter.
The deportation is particularly noteworthy given that Lebanon is not currently on any proposed U.S. entry ban lists. A hearing regarding Dr. Alawieh’s case is scheduled for Monday. Her legal team is seeking her return to the United States.
First Piper 