Rhode Island Doctor Deported: Reports

EAST PROVIDENCE, RI — A Brown Medicine doctor was reportedly deported, despite having a H-1B Visa.

Dr. Rasha Alawieh was detained at Logan Airport in Boston on Thursday after returning from visiting her family in Lebanon, the Boston Globe reported.

Alawieh works at Brown Medicine’s Division of Kidney Disease and Hypertension in East Providence. Dr. George Bayliss, who also teaches medicine at Brown University, told the Globe Alawieh also works in transplant services at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence and teaches at Brown University. School officials said they are "seeking to learn more about the situation."

Bayliss told WPRI 12 that U.S. District Court Judge Leo Sorokin ordered that Alawieh not be moved outside Massachusetts without a 48-hour notice, but the judge's order did not reach immigration officials in time. There is expected to be a federal court hearing on Alawieh on Monday morning.

"Arriving aliens bear the burden of establishing admissibility to the United States," a statement from U.S. Customs and Border Patrol read. "Our CBP Officers adhere to strict protocols to identify and stop threats, using rigorous screening, vetting, strong law enforcement partnerships, and keen inspectional skills to keep threats out of the country. CBP is committed to protecting the United States from national security threats."

Protestors supporting Alawieh plan to hold a demonstration at 6 p.m. Monday on the lawn of the Rhode Island State House in Providence.

U.S. Rep. Gabe Amo (D-Pawtucket) issued a statement in support of Alawieh.

"Since Friday, my office and I have been directly engaged with local and national lawyers, as well as other members of Congress, to assess the facts surrounding Dr. Alawieh, including the apparent violation of a federal judge’s order," Amo said. "I remain committed to getting answers from the Department of Homeland Security to provide Dr. Alawieh, her family, her colleagues, and our community the clarity we all deserve."

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