Doctor at Brown University deported to Lebanon despite US judge’s order

Dr. Rasha Alawieh. (Supplied)
Dr. Rasha Alawieh. (Supplied)
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Updated 17 March 2025
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Doctor at Brown University deported to Lebanon despite US judge’s order

Dr. Rasha Alawieh. (Supplied)
  • Alawieh, a Lebanese citizen, has an H-1B visa authorizing her to work at Brown University, yet she was detained on Thursday after returning from travel to Lebanon
  • Her expulsion is set to be the focus of a hearing on Monday before a federal judge in Boston, who demanded information on whether his order had been “willfully” disobeyed

BOSTON: A Rhode Island doctor who is an assistant professor at Brown University’s medical school has been deported to Lebanon even though a judge had issued an order blocking the US visa holder’s immediate removal from the country, according to court papers.
The expulsion of Dr. Rasha Alawieh, 34, is set to be the focus of a hearing on Monday before a federal judge in Boston, who on Sunday demanded information on whether US Customs and Border Protection had “willfully” disobeyed his order.
US District Judge Leo Sorokin, an appointee of Democratic President Barack Obama, said he had received a “detailed and specific” timeline of the events from an attorney working on Alawieh’s behalf that raised “serious allegations” about whether his order was violated.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Rasha Alawieh was removed after arriving at Boston airport

• Judge questions if Customs and Border Protection disobeyed his order

• Court hearing set for Monday

The agency has not said why she was removed. But her expulsion came as Republican US President Donald Trump’s administration has sought to sharply restrict border crossing and ramp up immigration arrests.
A CBP spokesperson, Hilton Beckham, in a statement said migrants bear the burden of establishing admissibility and that the agency’s officers “adhere to strict protocols to identify and stop threats.”
Alawieh, a Lebanese citizen who lives in Providence, was detained on Thursday after arriving at Logan International Airport in Boston after traveling to Lebanon to see relatives, according to a lawsuit filed by her cousin, Yara Chehab.
She had held a visa to be in the United States since 2018, when she first came to complete a two-year fellowship at Ohio State University before then completing a fellowship at the University of Washington and then moving to the Yale-Waterbury Internal Medicine Program, which she completed in June.
While in Lebanon, the US consulate issued Alawieh an H-1B visa authorizing her entry into the United States to work at Brown University, the lawsuit said. Such visas are reserved for people from other countries who are employed in specialty occupations.
Despite that visa, CBP detained her at the airport for reasons her family members have still not been provided, according to the lawsuit, which argued her rights were being violated.
In response to the lawsuit, Sorokin on Friday evening issued orders barring Alawieh’s removal from Massachusetts without 48 hours’ notice to the court and requiring her to be brought to a court hearing on Monday.
Yet according to the cousin’s attorneys, after that order was issued, Alawieh was flown to Paris, where she was then set to board a flight for Lebanon that had been scheduled for Sunday.
Sorokin on Sunday directed the government to provide a legal and factual response by Monday morning ahead of the previously scheduled hearing and to preserve all emails, text messages and other documents concerning Alawieh’s arrival and removal.
Concerns have also been raised in other cases about whether the Trump administration is complying with court rulings blocking parts of its agenda.
The Trump administration on Sunday said it has deported hundreds of Venezuelans to El Salvador under seldom-used wartime powers, despite a federal judge’s order temporarily barring such deportations.

 

 


Jordan’s FM says Syria’s reconstruction must preserve security, unity

Jordan’s FM says Syria’s reconstruction must preserve security, unity
Updated 11 sec ago
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Jordan’s FM says Syria’s reconstruction must preserve security, unity

Jordan’s FM says Syria’s reconstruction must preserve security, unity
  • Ayman Safadi met his Syrian counterpart on the sidelines of an international conference in Brussels
  • Ties between Amman and Damascus have improved since the fall of the Assad regime 

LONDON: Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi met his Syrian counterpart, Asaad Al-Shaibani, in Brussels on Monday on the sidelines of an international conference to support Syria’s political transformation.

Ties between the neighboring countries have improved since the fall of the Bashar Assad regime in December. Interim president of the Syrian Arab Republic, Ahmad Al-Sharaa, visited Amman in late February.

In Brussels, the ministers discussed the most recent developments in Syria. Safadi said that Jordan supports Syria’s reconstruction on the basis of preserving its security and unity while protecting the rights of Syrians, the Petra agency reported.

On Monday, the EU hosted the ninth international conference to support Syria. Representatives from the new interim government were invited to attend for the first time, including Al-Shaibani.

The event aims to bolster international support for Syria’s transition and recovery following more than 13 years of civil war.


Palestinian detainees ministry warns of virus outbreak in Israeli Megiddo Prison

Palestinian detainees ministry warns of virus outbreak in Israeli Megiddo Prison
Updated 59 min 28 sec ago
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Palestinian detainees ministry warns of virus outbreak in Israeli Megiddo Prison

Palestinian detainees ministry warns of virus outbreak in Israeli Megiddo Prison
  • 90 percent of prisoners have suffered from diarrhea and vomiting in the past 10 days
  • Ministry accuses Israel Prison Service of medical negligence for not providing adequate treatment

LONDON: The Palestinian Authority warned on Monday of a virus outbreak among Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails that could severely affect their health and well-being.

The PA’s Ministry of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs reported that prisoners in Megiddo Prison in northern Israel have been suffering from diarrhea and vomiting in the past 10 days. It reported that nearly 90 percent of the prisoners experienced these issues, and some lost consciousness due to the severity of the illness, particularly among the elderly.

The ministry accused the Israel Prison Service of medical negligence for not providing adequate treatment. Megiddo Prison is the second-largest Israeli prison, following the notorious Negev Desert Prison.

Since October 2023, the ministry has recorded the deaths of 53 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, with the most recent being Moataz Abu Zneid from Dura, south of Hebron, in the occupied West Bank.

By the end of December, Israel had detained 9,619 Palestinians, including 2,216 from the Gaza Strip. However, Tel Aviv released around 600 Palestinians in a ceasefire and captive exchange deal with Hamas in early 2025.


EU vows 2.5 bn euros to help Syrians after Assad ouster

EU High Representative and Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas (C)
EU High Representative and Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas (C)
Updated 59 min 47 sec ago
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EU vows 2.5 bn euros to help Syrians after Assad ouster

EU High Representative and Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas (C)
  • For the first time, the Syrian authorities were represented at the annual conference in Brussels
  • Outbreak of deadly violence this month has rocked confidence in the new authorities

BRUSSELS: The EU led the way on pledging aid for Syria on Monday at a donor drive in Brussels — but the call for funding to help the war-torn country after Bashar Assad’s ouster risked falling short of last year as US support dries up.
Western and regional powers are desperate to steer Syria onto the road to stability after 14 years of civil war that have sent millions of refugees over its borders.
For the first time, the Syrian authorities were represented at the annual conference in Brussels — with interim foreign minister Assaad Al-Shibani attending.
But an outbreak of deadly violence this month — the worst since Assad was toppled in December — has rocked confidence in the new authorities.
European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen said Brussels was stepping up its commitment for this year and next to almost 2.5 billion euros ($2.7 billion) to help those in Syria and neighboring countries.
“Syrians need greater support, whether they are still abroad, or they decide to go home,” she told the Brussels conference.
The vow from Brussels came on top of significant contributions from individual countries, including some $330 million from Germany and $210 million from Britain.
Last year’s donor drive raised 7.5 billion euros in grants and loans to help the people of Syria. The overall total for this year will be announced later Monday.
Efforts to top that level this time around look set to be hit by US President Donald Trump’s axing of Washington’s foreign aid budget.
Up until now, the United States has been the single biggest individual donor to fund humanitarian efforts in Syria, according to the United Nations.
Syria’s new rulers have been clamouring for assistance to help the country’s recovery.
The EU has eased sanctions on key sectors of the economy, but along with other powers it insists the authorities must make good on promises for an inclusive transition.
“We do appreciate the major measures taken by the European Union, such as the lifting or suspending of the sanctions,” Shibani said.
“However, these measures did not live up so far to our expectations. We want further measures in order to help us secure our recovery.”
There have been positive moves from Damascus, including Sharaa signing a constitutional declaration laying out a five-year transitional period, and rights for women and freedom of expression.
But hopes were shaken by the violence on Syria’s Mediterranean coast, which a war monitor said saw security forces kill nearly 1,500 civilians, most of them members of the Alawite minority to which the Assad family belongs.
Shibani insisted that the new authorities would bring to justice “anyone who perpetrated any crime, whose hands are stained with blood.”
“We believe in the true sense of citizenship, the citizenship of every single citizen of Syria, regardless of their ethnicity or religion,” he said.
The EU has held its annual donor drive for Syria for the past eight years but it mainly focused on supporting refugees in neighboring countries and avoided any contacts with the Assad regime.
Syria’s needs are massive as swathes of the country lie in ruins and the economy has been ravaged by years of international isolation after Assad’s 2011 crackdown on opposition sparked the civil war.
The country still faces a dire humanitarian situation, with an estimated 16.7 million people in need of assistance.
“It would be a mistake to disinvest from Syria now,” said Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
“Humanitarian aid remains a lifeline that millions of Syrians depend on. Severing it now would only deepen their suffering and prolong the country’s recovery,” she said.
The United Nations says that, at current growth rates, Syria would need more than 50 years to get back to its economic level before the outbreak of the war.


King of Jordan discusses Gaza, regional development with Italian president, PM

King of Jordan discusses Gaza, regional development with Italian president, PM
Updated 18 min 45 sec ago
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King of Jordan discusses Gaza, regional development with Italian president, PM

King of Jordan discusses Gaza, regional development with Italian president, PM
  • King Abdullah highlighted Italy’s vital role in Gaza’s humanitarian assistance and airlift efforts
  • He warned about escalating tensions in the occupied West Bank and violations of holy sites in Jerusalem

LONDON: King Abdullah II of Jordan met with Italian President Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinal Palace in Rome on Monday to discuss regional developments.

King Abdullah stressed the need for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and highlighted Italy’s vital role in humanitarian assistance and airlift efforts carried out by Jordan, Petra reported.

He affirmed that Jordan supports the reconstruction of Gaza without the displacement of its residents and warned about the escalating tensions in the occupied West Bank and violations of holy sites in Jerusalem.

During the meeting attended by Qais Abu Daieh, the Jordanian ambassador to Rome, and Alaa Batayneh, the director of King Abdullah’s office, Mattarella and the Jordanian monarch reviewed their countries’ friendly relations.

The king also met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Monday, during which he stressed that a two-state solution was essential for regional stability.

Discussions with Meloni covered Jordan-Italy cooperation, Syria’s stability, and Lebanon’s security.

Meloni reaffirmed Italy’s support for Jordan’s role in promoting peace in the Middle East. The meeting was also attended by Batayneh.


Israel strikes kill five people in Gaza, local medics say

Relatives gather near the bodies of 3 Palestinian men who were killed in an Israeli drone strike east of Bureij camp.
Relatives gather near the bodies of 3 Palestinian men who were killed in an Israeli drone strike east of Bureij camp.
Updated 17 March 2025
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Israel strikes kill five people in Gaza, local medics say

Relatives gather near the bodies of 3 Palestinian men who were killed in an Israeli drone strike east of Bureij camp.
  • Israeli air strike killed three Palestinian men in Gaza on Monday as they tried to gather firewood
  • Later on Monday, medics said an Israeli air strike killed a father and his son inside a school sheltering displaced families

CAIRO: An Israeli air strike killed three Palestinian men in Gaza on Monday as they tried to gather firewood, medics said, with no sign of progress in renewed talks on sustaining a ceasefire deal between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas.
In the latest bloodshed to underline the fragility of the Gaza war’s three-stage truce, the three, all from the same family, had left their homes in central Gaza to collect the wood for cooking.
That has become a daily task for many Gazans as Israel has continued to ban fuel, food, and medical goods from entering Gaza for over two weeks, residents said.
The Israeli military said in a statement it struck “terrorists” operating near their forces and attempting to plant a bomb.
At Al-Aqsa Hospital in Gaza’s Deir Al-Balah, relatives rushed to pay farewell to the three white-shrouded bodies.
“They were targeted — and when their cousins and others in the area came to rescue them, the drone targeted them with bombs,” said Jabr Abou Hajjeer, the father of one of the victims.
Later on Monday, medics said an Israeli air strike killed a father and his son inside a school sheltering displaced families in Bureij camp, near the site of the earlier strikes, raising the day’s death toll to five.
The Israeli military said the strike hit two people who were attempting to plant a bomb in the ground near where forces operated in Bureij.
Ismail Al-Thawabta, director of the Hamas-run Gaza government media office, said Israel’s “violations” could “undermine all efforts for de-escalation.”
He put the number of Palestinians killed since the January ceasefire at 150.
Israel’s military says it has repeatedly thwarted attempts by Palestinians to plant bombs or otherwise threaten their forces.
Israel’s suspension of goods entering Gaza for 16 days has increased pressure on Gaza’s 2.3 million people, most of whom have been made homeless by the war. The suspension, which Israel said was aimed at pressuring Hamas in ceasefire talks, applies to food, medicine, and fuel imports.

Bakeries closed
Several bakeries have recently closed and food prices are rising, while the electricity cut could deprive people of clean water.
Israel wants to extend the first phase of the ceasefire mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the US, a proposal backed by US envoy Steve Witkoff. Hamas says it will resume freeing hostages only under the second phase that was due to begin on March 2.
Israel and Hamas have been holding successive talks with Egyptian mediators in Cairo.
Hamas spokesperson Abdel-Latif Al-Qanoua said on Monday that while his group was complying with the terms of the truce, Israel “seeks to foil the agreement and impose new conditions.”
On Friday, Hamas said it had agreed to release American-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander and four bodies of the hostages if Israel agreed to begin talks immediately on implementing the second phase of the agreement. Israel accused Hamas of waging “psychological warfare” on hostage families.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said negotiators had been instructed to be ready to continue talks based on the mediators’ response to a US proposal for the release of 11 out of 59 living hostages still held, and half of the dead captives.
Gaza’s latest war began when Hamas led a cross-border raid into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and capturing 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
Israel’s assault on Gaza has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, displaced most of the population and reduced much of the territory to rubble.