The deportation of Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a kidney transplant specialist and professor at Brown University’s medical school, has raised concerns regarding the treatment of H-1B visa holders under the Trump administration. Despite holding a valid visa and a federal court order temporarily blocking her removal, she was deported, prompting questions about the future of employment-based visas in the United States.
After returning from a visit to Lebanon, she was detained at Boston Logan International Airport, held for 36 hours, and placed on a flight to Paris, despite a court order requiring authorities to provide 48 hours’ notice before any removal action. Customs and Border Protection has yet to explain why the order was disregarded.
Legal representatives for Alawieh and her cousin, Yara Chehab, have filed cases against senior officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, seeking clarification on whether this incident reflects a broader policy shift targeting H-1B visa holders.
This case is part of a larger trend of deportations and visa crackdowns affecting foreign professionals and students. Recently, an Indian PhD student at Columbia University, Ranjani Srinivasan, was forced to leave the United States after her F-1 visa was revoked. The Department of Homeland Security accused her of supporting Hamas, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the US government. She used the CBP Home App to self-deport, days after her visa revocation.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem emphasized that holding a visa is a privilege, stating that individuals who advocate for violence or terrorism should not be allowed to remain in the country. She expressed approval of Srinivasan’s self-deportation, highlighting that those who fail to leave voluntarily will be located and removed.
The CBP Home App, introduced as a new enforcement tool, enables individuals without legal status to report their departure, with officials stating that self-deportation may allow them a future opportunity to return legally. Authorities have warned that failure to comply will result in permanent bans from re-entering the country.
Another case involved Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian student from the West Bank, who was arrested for overstaying her F-1 visa, which had been terminated in early 2022 due to a lack of attendance. She had previously been arrested for participating in pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University.
These deportations coincide with a broader crackdown on universities accused of tolerating anti-Semitism. Columbia University has lost nearly $400 million in federal funding due to allegations that it failed to protect Jewish students amid campus protests. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon stated that since the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, Jewish students have experienced persistent harassment and violence, which the university has failed to address. She warned that institutions must comply with federal anti-discrimination laws if they expect to receive government funding.
A US permanent resident of Palestinian descent, Mahmoud Khalil, who graduated from Columbia University, was also detained for leading anti-Israel demonstrations and transferred to an immigration detention facility in Louisiana.
These events have created a climate of uncertainty among international students and professionals, particularly H-1B visa holders, who worry about abrupt enforcement actions affecting their status.
The Trump administration has expanded immigration policies to focus not only on illegal border crossings but also on legal visa programs, intensifying scrutiny on employment-based visas, student visas, and other pathways for foreign professionals and students. Officials have reiterated that holding a visa is not a right but a privilege, and that any violations of immigration regulations or activities deemed contrary to US interests may result in revocation and removal.
Efforts to tighten enforcement include new policies aimed at accelerating removals and discouraging visa overstays. Authorities have underscored a zero-tolerance approach, reinforcing the expectation that even those with legal status must strictly adhere to all conditions.
Despite legal challenges, including court rulings that have blocked certain restrictions on asylum seekers and visa revocations, the administration continues to implement stringent immigration measures. The overarching goal remains to reduce overall immigration numbers, exercise stricter control over who is permitted to stay, and reshape the role of immigration in the US economy and society.
