PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the deportation of a doctor from Lebanon who was expelled from Boston’s Logan Airport despite possessing a visa after immigration officials claimed she supported a Hezbollah leader and attended his funeral.
In March, Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a kidney transplant specialist at Brown University, faced detention for over 36 hours at Logan Airport upon arriving from Lebanon. Alawieh was traveling with her family and had attended the funeral of Hassan Nasrallah, the former leader of Hezbollah.
Authorities claimed to have discovered pictures on Alawieh's phone showing Hezbollah fighters and martyrs, while she argued her interest was solely in Nasrallah’s spiritual beliefs, acknowledging some familial political support for him.
The case quickly drew national attention when her family initiated a legal effort to secure her presence in the U.S. A temporary order was issued preventing her removal pending a hearing; however, customs officials proceeded with her removal before the order was enforced.
Judge Sorokin stated on Oct. 31 that he lacked the jurisdiction to grant the relief sought by Alawieh, particularly regarding the elimination of her five-year return ban. He explained that this bar was a result of the expedited removal process which led to her being deported.
Alawieh's lawyers have yet to respond to requests for comments following the ruling. Judge Sorokin emphasized that congressionally established limits on judicial intervention in deportation cases were supported by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, restricting federal judges from intervening in cases like Alawieh's.
In March, Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a kidney transplant specialist at Brown University, faced detention for over 36 hours at Logan Airport upon arriving from Lebanon. Alawieh was traveling with her family and had attended the funeral of Hassan Nasrallah, the former leader of Hezbollah.
Authorities claimed to have discovered pictures on Alawieh's phone showing Hezbollah fighters and martyrs, while she argued her interest was solely in Nasrallah’s spiritual beliefs, acknowledging some familial political support for him.
The case quickly drew national attention when her family initiated a legal effort to secure her presence in the U.S. A temporary order was issued preventing her removal pending a hearing; however, customs officials proceeded with her removal before the order was enforced.
Judge Sorokin stated on Oct. 31 that he lacked the jurisdiction to grant the relief sought by Alawieh, particularly regarding the elimination of her five-year return ban. He explained that this bar was a result of the expedited removal process which led to her being deported.
Alawieh's lawyers have yet to respond to requests for comments following the ruling. Judge Sorokin emphasized that congressionally established limits on judicial intervention in deportation cases were supported by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, restricting federal judges from intervening in cases like Alawieh's.
