A federal judge on Sunday instructed the Trump administration to address claims that U.S. immigration enforcement "knowingly defied" an instruction to stop deporting a doctor from Rhode Island.
The big picture: Dr. Rasha Alawieh, as stated in legal papers, is a Lebanese national who possesses an H-1B visa She was arrested when she arrived at a Boston airport last week.
How it happened: On Friday night, following a plea from Alawieh's cousin, Federal Judge Leo T. Sorokin issued an order requiring at least 48 hours' notice prior to Alawieh’s deportation.
- However, Alawieh was still put on a plane to Paris and remained in detention as of Saturday.
- The duration from when the directive was issued until the aircraft took off remains uncertain. However, lawyers acting for Alawieh’s cousin, Yara Chehab, claimed in legal documents that the authorities were well aware of the court's instruction yet deliberately chose not to comply with it. According to these filings, Alawieh was scheduled to depart for Lebanon on Sunday.
- The Trump administration has not said why Alawieh was detained, or why she was removed from the country despite the order. The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to a request for comment, while the State Department said it could not comment on individual cases.
Driving the news: In a Sunday court filing , Sorokin instructed the government to reply by Monday morning regarding the "grave accusations" that it deliberately violated a court order.
- In his earlier directive, Sorokin stated that to provide additional time for reviewing the case, Alawieh should not be transferred out of Massachusetts without giving at least 48 hours’ advance notice along with a detailed justification.
- In his Sunday submission, Sorokin stated that his directive adhered to "the standard procedure in this district as it has consistently been for many years."
Catch up quick: After offering her an assistant professor position, Brown University supported Alawieh's visa application, as stated in the document. complaint filed Friday.
- Her request was granted in June, however, she didn't manage to get her visa until March 11, as stated in the documents.
- Before she finished her programs at the University of Washington, Ohio State University, and Yale, she was on a J-1 visa, as stated in the complaint.
What they're saying: The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) called on the Trump administration in a Sunday statement to "immediately readmit" Alawieh.
- "As a resident of the U.S. for six years and as a physician employed with the Division of Kidney Diseases & Hypertension at Brown Medicine, Dr. Alawieh was instrumental in providing care to numerous patients requiring specialized medical attention," according to CAIR's statement.
Zoom out: This wouldn't be the first instance of the Trump administration attempting to deport an individual who was lawfully residing in the United States.
- It occurred merely a week following the arrest of the individual by federal authorities. Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate of Columbia University and a protest leader, even though he was legal permanent resident in the U.S.
What's next: A court hearing for Alawieh's case is scheduled for Monday.
Go deeper: Trump's immigration factor
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