- Dr. Rasha Alawieh detained at Boston Logan Airport two days after receiving H1B visa
- Brown University urgently needed her transplant nephrology expertise
- DHS ignored federal court order to delay deportation
- Case highlights immigration enforcement vs. academic collaboration tensions
- Legal experts warn of chilling effect on international scholars
Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a Lebanese transplant nephrologist recruited by Brown University, was detained by Homeland Security officials at Boston Logan International Airport on March 13 despite possessing a valid H1B work visa issued just two days prior. The abrupt detention shocked her colleagues, who described her as an outstanding academiccritical to their nephrology program.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) declined to disclose reasons for the detention, though a spokesperson emphasized that arriving aliens bear the burden of establishing admissibility.Legal filings reveal Brown University administrators were extremely distressed,noting the institution had invested significant resources in recruiting Alawieh following her fellowships at Yale and the University of Washington.
The case coincides with a 17% increase in H1B visa petition denials since 2022, according to National Foundation for American Policy data. Academic institutions increasingly report challenges bringing international specialists to US campuses, with 42% of research universities citing visa delays as major hurdles in a 2023 Association of American Universities survey.
A Massachusetts district court ordered DHS to provide 48-hour deportation notice, but authorities reportedly flew Alawieh to France within hours. This mirrors Canada's 2022 streamlined visa program for medical researchers, which reduced processing times by 34% while maintaining security checks – a model some argue the US could adopt.
Legal scholars note the deportation violates procedural norms. When courts issue stays, agencies must comply unless facing imminent danger,stated immigration attorney Lauren Gilbert. This sets dangerous precedent for due process in visa cases.
Brown Medicine continues advocating for Alawieh's return, emphasizing the broader implications: Losing talent over opaque bureaucracy harms patients and research,said Chief of Nephrology Dr. Paul Scheel. The ACLU has filed a motion demanding DHS justify its actions, with a hearing scheduled next week.
