April 9, 2025 – Written by Jinan Chehade
Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a kidney transplant specialist and professor at Brown University’s medical school, was denied entry into and deported from the United States despite holding a valid H-1B work visa and a court order temporarily blocking her removal. Upon her arrival at Boston Logan Airport from Lebanon, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials detained her, searched her phone, and interrogated her about attending a mass funeral in Lebanon and possessing certain images on her device. Despite a federal judge’s directive requiring government attorneys to provide her notice before removing Dr. Alawieh from the United States, she was secretly placed on a flight to Paris, France, raising serious concerns about due process violations by the U.S. government.
Possibly more troubling than Dr. Alawieh’s experience at Boston Logan Airport is the case of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University in Massachusetts. She was swarmed on the street by a group of masked, plainclothes individuals claiming to be ICE agents who whisked her away in an unmarked van in what looked to bystanders to be anything but a law enforcement operation. Secretary of State Rubio and Department of Homeland Security officials have accused her of supporting Hamas based on an op-ed she co-authored advocating for Tufts to divest from companies linked to Israel. The Department of State revoked her visa without the required notice, and she was transferred to a detention center 1,000 miles away in Louisiana a mere hours after being taken into custody, sparking legal challenges and protests.
These cases are not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern of U.S. immigration authorities targeting international students and visa holders based on their perceived political views, particularly those expressing support for Palestinian human rights.1 The Trump administration, in a rash, chaotic, and unconstitutional manner, is using immigration as a tool to retaliate against individuals whose political opinions diverge from U.S. pro-Israel foreign policy. By weaponizing immigration enforcement, the administration is not only seeking to punish those who speak out but also makes an example out of them to deter future dissenters. Such actions by the government are unconstitutional, as the First Amendment protects the free speech rights of all individuals, regardless of citizenship status. Weaponizing immigration enforcement to suppress political dissent undermines fundamental civil liberties such as due process and sets a dangerous precedent of allowing only speech the government deems acceptable.
In light of this hostile environment, international students, visa holders, and lawful permanent residents must exercise caution when planning to travel abroad and later return to the United States. Immigration attorneys nationwide are reporting an increase in secondary screenings and detentions, especially targeting Muslims and activists involved in Palestinian-related causes. If you have amended your immigration status within the U.S. and lack a visa stamp reflecting that change, it is advisable to avoid international travel at this time. Should travel be unavoidable, consult with an immigration attorney beforehand to assess the risks and prepare accordingly. Holding a valid visa has never guaranteed re-entry after international travel, and the current climate suggests that it is even less so now, particularly for those whose political speech challenges the U.S.’s prevailing foreign policies.
