Deported Doctor Admits Attending Hezbollah Leader's Funeral in Lebanon, Source Reveals

An assistant professor and physician affiliated with Brown University was removed from Boston to Lebanon during the weekend following federal authorities discovering images of ex-Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and Iran’s Supreme Leader on her cellphone, according to an individual knowledgeable about the situation who spoke to gudangmovies21.

After Dr. Rasha Alawieh returned from a trip to Lebanon on Thursday, federal agents at Boston Logan International Airport discovered some photographs on her device, according to a source who spoke about the matter. The reason for law enforcement officials reviewing her phone wasn’t known right away.

The existence of the photos was outlined in a court filing Monday obtained by gudangmovies21affiliate WCVB. “In explaining why these multiple photos were deleted by her one to two days before she arrived at Logan Airport, Dr. Alawieh stated that she did not want to give authorities the perception that she supports Hezbollah and the Ayatollah politically or militarily,” the filing reads, per WCVB .

I believe that after hearing one of his sermons, you will understand what I'm referring to," Alawieh reportedly stated to the investigators, as per WCVB’s version of the document. "He is deeply religious and spiritual. As mentioned earlier, he holds great importance. His lessons focus on spirituality and ethics.

Alawieh, who is 34 years old, admitted to federal agents that she went Nasrallah’s February 23 funeral – a public event attended by thousands – during her visit, said the source.

“Our client is in Lebanon, and we’re not going to stop fighting to get her back in the US to see her patients, and we’re also going to make sure that the government follows the rule of law,” Stephanie Marzouk, an attorney representing Alawieh’s family in a federal complaint fighting the deportation, told reporters Monday outside a Boston courthouse.

Alawieh characterized Nasrallah, who was killed last September Following an Israeli airstrike in Beirut, she presented herself to the officials as a respected religious figure and informed them that she adheres to his religious and spiritual practices but does not support his political views, according to the source.

Alawieh admitted to immigration officials that Hezbollah is considered a terrorist organization, as per the source. This group has extensive backing from Shiite Muslims throughout the Middle East and is labeled as a terror entity in the U.S. and numerous other Western nations.

"Last month, Rasha Alawieh went to Beirut, Lebanon, to be present at the funeral of Hassan Nasrallah – an extremely violent terrorist who headed Hezbollah, accountable for the deaths of hundreds of Americans during a forty-year period of terrorism," stated a representative from the Department of Homeland Security.

“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 spokesperson added.

In a separate statement, Customs and Border Protection said foreigners traveling to the US with a visa are not guaranteed entry, adding that border patrol agents have final say on who can enter the country following security checks.

"Individuals from foreign countries who propagate extreme ideologies or distribute terrorist materials are not allowed entry into the U.S., period," said CBP representative Hilton Beckham to gudangmovies21Monday.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for Massachusetts, acting on behalf of the Trump administration in the legal proceedings, chose not to comment.

Alawieh’s removal occurred as Republican President Donald Trump’s administration aimed to significantly limit border crossings and increase immigration enforcement actions. This happened just days after the detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate and pro-Palestinian activist, whose potential deportation had been halted. on hold by a judge.

During the weekend, hundreds of immigrants who allegedly had connections to gangs were deported By the Trump administration, even though a judge ruled against their expulsion. The White House stated that the judge’s ruling occurred following the departure of these immigrants, primarily from Venezuela, from the U.S.

Today's court hearing about the removal has been cancelled.

A hearing about Alawieh’s deportation was abruptly canceled Monday morning by a federal judge who had ordered immigration officials to give him notice before her removal.

US District Judge Leo Sorokin, an Obama appointee had been tracking the case following a complaint alleging that Alawieh did not have access to legal representation during her detention. The complaint was filed on Alawieh’s behalf by her cousin, Yara Chehab.

In an order submitted right before the hearing began on Monday, Sorokin stated that he learned through testimony that "the officers at Logan were notified about the Court’s Order by their legal counsel only after Dr. Alawieh 'had already left the United States,' and '[a]t no point would Customs and Border Protection disregard a court order or fail to comply with a judicial directive.'"

On Friday, Sorokin instructed Alawieh that they "must not leave the District of Massachusetts without giving the Court at least 48 hours' prior notification," stating this was required "to allow the Court sufficient time to review the situation."

Sorokin said he was delaying Monday’s hearing until later this month at the request of Chehab’s attorney after other lawyers representing her withdrew from the case “as a result of further diligence.” The attorneys who withdrew from the case did not respond to gudangmovies21’s requests for comment.

An individual from Lebanon residing in Rhode Island, Alawieh, received approval for an H-1B visa during the previous year to be employed within the Division of Nephrology at Brown University’s medical school. This occurred following his attendance at three American universities starting in 2018, according to the federal complaint.

In February, Alawieh traveled to Lebanon intending for only a brief stay; however, her return was postponed as she attempted to obtain documentation from the US Consulate in Beirut, according to the court papers.

Her documents were approved on March 11, however, upon arriving at the Boston airport just two days after, Alawieh was promptly detained and informed that she would be returned to Lebanon the following day, as stated in the complaint.

The initial complaint noted that Customs and Border Protection "has declined to offer any details regarding the reasons for her detention and expedited removal, as well as to verify the scheduled flight."

The Council on American-Islamic Relations stated that they believe Alawieh was "incorrectly deported," according to an announcement made early Monday.

Concerning allegations that Alawieh was present at Nasrallah’s funeral, CAIR Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell stated to gudangmovies21 on Monday, "We haven't yet reviewed the submission or any proof backing this recent assertion; however, we will initially yield to her legal representative for comments prior to our own response."

"Expelling legal immigrants such as Dr. Alawieh without justification erodes the principle of law and fosters doubt that our immigration framework might be morphing into an anti-Muslim, white supremacist entity aimed at removing and denying entry to as many Muslims and individuals of color as feasible," stated CAIR on Sunday. statement .

Democratic Representative Gabe Amo from Rhode Island continues to show his dedication to obtaining responses from the Department of Homeland Security regarding Alawieh’s situation. He said on X Sunday.

Supporters assembled outside the Rhode Island State House in Providence on Monday night, urging Brown University to take all necessary measures to facilitate Alawieh's return to the U.S. The attendees at the demonstration also expressed their worries about the Trump administration’s latest deportation policies.

"I'm concerned about traveling, should I decide to visit my family," stated Dany Khalife, a green card holder and first-generation Lebanese-Palestinian residing in the U.S. with his spouse and child.

Khalife mentioned that the administration’s immigration policies might potentially be "used as weapons" against U.S. citizens who possess dual nationality.

On Monday, a representative from Brown University released a statement indicating that the institution plans to investigate precisely what transpired.

"We aim to gather further details regarding the incident, however, we must exercise caution when discussing any private matters of individuals openly," said Brian Clark, a spokesperson for Brown University, to gudangmovies21 on Monday.

The university issued an email on Sunday with the subject line, "Guidance and Resources for Our International Community Regarding Travel."

"As an extra precaution, we advise international students, employees, teachers, and researchers — including those with U.S. visas and green card holders — to think about putting off non-essential trips abroad until further details are provided by the U.S. Department of State," the advisory states.

Dakin Andone and Karina Tsui from gudangmovies21 contributed to this report.

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