The recent deportation of an H-1B surgeon at the Boston Logan Airport has sent shockwaves through the community.
Dr. Rasha Alawieh did everything by the book and even got relief from the court as a federal judge ordered officials not to move her. Yet, she was still put on a plane to Paris, completely disregarding the court’s authority.
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While some argue that the court order might not have reached the CBP officials in time, the grim details coming out put a giant hole in this argument. The family of the Lebanese-origin doctor claims she wasn’t even given a chance to fight her case as immigration officers blocked lawyers from speaking to her.
No explanation, no reason, and a doctor is deported as if she is a terrorist, just because she committed the crime of visiting her family for two weeks.
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Immigrants are already living in fear in the US, and this case has sent them into more panic, especially H-1B workers traveling back to the country. An Indian H1B started questioning whether he should board his flight to Boston Airport or take another route.
This highlights that it isn’t about just one doctor. It’s about a system that has become more unpredictable and authoritarian.
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Dr. Alawieh had all her documents and co-operated with the authorities yet she faced this horrific ordeal. It proves that the crackdown in the US isn’t just against illegal immigrants, even legal immigrants are not safe.
Will authorities be held accountable for defying a judge’s order? Or will Dr. Alawieh’s case become just another forgettable case in the sea of deportations? Only time will tell.
