Brown University issues travel warning to international students and staff after professor's deportation to Lebanon

Brown University has issued a travel advisory to its international students, faculty, and staff after the deportation of an assistant professor to Lebanon. The move follows the recent detention of Dr. Rasha Alawieh, an assistant professor at Brown's medical school, who was deported by US authorities after a trip to Lebanon. The advisory, shared in a campus-wide email, urges members of the university's international community to reconsider plans for international travel due to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding US immigration policies.
Russell Carey, Brown University's executive vice president for planning and policy, encouraged those planning to travel outside the US to wait for further guidance from the US Department of State. As reported by The Hill, Carey's message emphasized the importance of staying informed in light of recent events and the heightened risks for foreign nationals under current immigration policies. "Out of an abundance of caution, we encourage international students, staff, faculty, and scholars — including US visa holders and permanent residents — to consider postponing or delaying personal travel outside the United States until more information is available from the US Department of State," Carey said in the email.
Deportation of Rasha Alawieh sparks concern
The advisory comes after Dr. Alawieh, an assistant professor on an H-1B visa, was detained and deported despite a court order that had allowed her to remain in the country. The professor had traveled to Lebanon to attend a funeral but was stopped upon her return to the US The federal government explained that the court order permitting her stay was not communicated to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents, leading to her deportation over the weekend.

The incident has raised concerns among the university's international community, which includes a large number of students, faculty, and scholars from abroad. As reported by The Hill, Brown University officials continue to seek further clarification on what transpired with Alawieh's deportation. "We continue to seek to learn more about what has happened," the university said in a statement.
Immigration crackdown affects US universities
Alawieh's deportation is part of a larger trend under the Trump administration's stricter immigration enforcement, which has led to increased scrutiny of foreign nationals, particularly in academic settings. The deportation follows other recent cases, such as that of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate, and another student whose visa was revoked.
The university's travel warning underscores the challenges international scholars and students face under the current political climate. As quoted by The Hill, Brown emphasized the uncertainty surrounding US immigration policies and the potential risks posed by traveling abroad. The university is urging its international community to be cautious as the situation evolves.