The White House sparked controversy by resharing a DHS post on the deportation of Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a Lebanese doctor, adding “bye-bye Rasha” alongside a photo of Trump. Alawieh was accused of ties to Hezbollah and deported despite a federal court order protecting her. Legal challenges are underway as her attorney vows to fight for her return to the U.S.

On Monday, the White House stirred controversy by resharing a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) post regarding the deportation of Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a Lebanese kidney transplant specialist. The White House’s addition of “bye-bye Rasha” alongside an image of President Donald Trump waving sparked public debate. Dr. Alawieh had been detained upon arrival at Logan Airport in Boston and subsequently deported due to alleged associations with Hezbollah.

U.S. authorities contended that Dr. Alawieh “openly admitted” to attending the funeral of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on February 23 during a recent trip to Lebanon. DHS asserted that she had photos of Nasrallah and Hezbollah fighters on her mobile device, which were deleted shortly thereafter. The DHS underscored that “a visa is a privilege, not a right” and highlighted that her alleged glorification of terrorism justified the visa denial based on commonsense security measures.

At 34 years of age, Dr. Alawieh had been granted an H-1B visa to serve as an assistant professor at Brown University, where she had been employed in Rhode Island. Her deportation has incited a legal dispute; her legal representatives argue that her removal occurred despite a federal court order allowing her to remain in the U.S. until further hearings. U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin instructed that she could not be deported without a 48-hour notice from the court.

Lawyer Stephanie Marzouk has expressed her determination to continue pursuing justice for Dr. Alawieh, emphasizing, “We will not stop fighting to get Dr. Alawieh back to the U.S. to see her patients where she should be.” Dr. Alawieh allegedly claimed that her interest in Nasrallah stemmed from “religious and spiritual teachings” rather than political or military ideologies. When asked about deleting the photos, she reportedly stated, “Because I didn’t want the perception. But I know I’m not doing anything wrong.”

The case takes place within a larger context of heightened scrutiny and enforcement against visa holders suspected of extremist affiliations, following recent detentions and visa revocations of individuals related to alleged terrorist activities.

The White House’s reshare of Rasha Alawieh’s deportation post has generated significant controversy. Dr. Alawieh’s deportation, linked to alleged ties with Hezbollah, raises important questions about visa security and due process. Despite a federal court’s ruling protecting her, the swift action taken by authorities highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding national security and immigration policy. The case reflects broader patterns of scrutiny applied to individuals with suspected extremist ties, necessitating an ongoing conversation about balancing security with the rights of legal immigrants.

Original Source: www.indiatoday.in

Related posts:

Revocation of Ranjani Srinivasan’s Visa: Implications and Context US Intensifies Crackdown on Venezuelan Migrants Through Alien Enemies Act Lebanon Elects New President Joseph Aoun Amid Saudi Diplomatic Efforts Justice Department Investigates Columbia University Amidst Political Tensions