World Immigration News

2 separate cases place the immigration lens on Boston

Release Date: 2025-03-17
Media: npr
Summary: Trump administration immigration officials are defending their decision to send Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a doctor working in the U.S. on an H-1B visa, back to Lebanon. The Department of Homeland Security claims she supported Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, a U.S.-designated terrorist, after attending his funeral in Beirut. Alawieh admitted this to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, which they argue justifies her visa denial.

Alawieh was detained for 36 hours upon returning to Boston and had her phone confiscated. Her lawyers attempted to stop her deportation, but Alawieh was already sent back before the court order could be enforced. In a separate case, a German green card holder, Fabian Schmidt, was detained under similar circumstances, with his family claiming he was mistreated during interrogation.

These incidents are part of a broader trend of strict immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, leading to protests in support of those affected, including a planned rally for Alawieh.
Tags: USA

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