Rhode Island

Judge demands explanation after R.I. doctor deported despite court order – The Boston Globe

Published

12 months ago

March 16, 2025

Judge demands explanation after R.I. doctor deported despite court order – The Boston Globe

Dr. Rasha Alawieh, 34, a kidney transplant doctor and assistant professor at Brown Medicine and Rhode Island Hospital, traveled to Lebanon to see her parents but was prevented from re-entering the United States at Logan airport on Thursday evening.

On Friday, Judge Leo T. Sorokin of the US District Court in Massachusetts ordered the government not to move Alawieh outside the District of Massachusetts without 48 hours’ notice so that he could consider a habeas corpus petition, which said Alawieh had a valid visa authorizing her entry into the country.

But Alawieh was placed on a flight to Paris on Friday night, and she was later flown back to Lebanon, arriving on Sunday morning, according to her colleagues and lawyers.

Her lawyers filed a notice of apparent violation, claiming the government “had actual notice of this court’s order and willfully disobeyed this court’s order.”

On Sunday, Sorokin ordered the government to answer that claim.

“These allegations are supported by a detailed and specific timeline in an under oath affidavit filed by an attorney,” the judge wrote. “The government shall respond to these serious allegations with a legal and factual response setting forth its version of events.”

Sorokin gave the government until 8:30 a.m. Monday to respond, and he set a hearing for 10 a.m. Monday at the John J. Moakley Courthouse in Boston.

“In addition,” the judge wrote in his order, “the government shall preserve all of the documents bearing on Dr. Alawieh’s arrival and removal since the issuance of the visa described in the petition including emails and text messages.”

A US Customs and Border Patrol spokesperson, Ryan Brissette, did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

Alawieh’s colleagues at Brown Medicine and Rhode Island Hospital said they were outraged that she had been deported after studying and working in the United States for six years under J-1 and H-B1 visas.

Dr. George P. Bayliss, medical director of Brown Medicine’s organ transplant program, said he hopes the judge will declare immigration authorities in contempt of court and order Alawieh to be returned to the United States.

“I am outraged and upset,” he said. “The government is acting without regard for the courts.”

Plenty of other doctors in Rhode Island have H-1B visas, Bayliss said. “Everyone is at risk,” he said.

The US country has a shortage of kidney doctors, but graduates of foreign medical schools have been coming in on visas to train as nephrologists, Bayliss said. “This has implications far beyond Dr. Alawieh and our division,” he added. “This could worsen the shortage of doctors taking care of people with kidney disease and potentially transplantation.”

Dr. Basma Merhi, medical director of the living donor program and associate medical director of Brown Medicine’s transplant program, described Alawieh as her friend and colleague. “She is an accomplished doctor,” she said. “I don’t know why this should happen to a physician that is very needed and a valuable person to our program.”

The situation is creating widespread anxiety, Merhi said. “If this happened to a doctor serving her patients and helping people and saving lives, it can happen to anybody,” she said.

Rally set for 6 p.m. Monday at the State House in support of Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a Brown Medicine doctor who was denied re-entry to the US after visiting her parents in Lebanon, and then deported despite a judge’s order. pic.twitter.com/w3DUPGME2u
— Edward Fitzpatrick (@FitzProv) March 16, 2025

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights group, on Sunday called for the Trump administration to immediately readmit Alawieh to the country.

“Deporting lawful immigrants like Dr. Alawieh without any basis undermines the rule of law and reinforces suspicion that our immigration system is turning into an anti-Muslim, white supremacist institution that seeks to expel and turn away as many Muslims and people of color as possible,” the council said in a statement.

US Representative Gabe Amo, a Rhode Island Democrat, said in a statement that his office has been in contact with local and national lawyers and other members of Congress “to assess the facts surrounding Dr. Alawieh, including the apparent violation of a federal judge’s order.”

Steven Brown, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island, said the ACLU is willing to help with legal assistance.

“The idea that somebody who has been lawfully working and living in this country for years can be suddenly whisked away by our government to another country without any semblance of due process would give any person who cares about our democracy pause,” Brown said. “And the fact that it was done in apparent defiance of a court order makes it even more appalling.”

A protest in support of Alawieh has been scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday on the Rhode Island State House lawn.

Edward Fitzpatrick can be reached at edward.fitzpatrick@globe.com. Follow him @FitzProv.

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Rhode Island

Thousands drop public health insurance coverage in RI after premiums spike

Published

30 minutes ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

Thousands drop public health insurance coverage in RI after premiums spike

Thousands of Rhode Islanders dropped their health insurance plans after federal subsidies expired.
Enrollment in HealthSource RI, the state’s marketplace, fell by 20% in early 2024.
The average premium for enrollees more than doubled as federal funding ended.

Thousands of Rhode Islanders dropped health insurance coverage through Rhode Island’s public insurance marketplace instead of maintaining plans with rising premiums and lower subsidies, HealthSource RI said.

Enrollment through HealthSource, Rhode Island’s “Obamacare” exchange, plunged 20% between the end of last year and the close of the annual enrollment period a month later, as federal funding for premium tax credits expired, according to a HealthSource new release.

There were 48,060 individual and family enrollments on Dec. 31 of last year, the day the premium subsidies from the American Rescue Plan and Inflation Reduction Act ended.

On Feb. 1, there were 38,557 enrollments.

Before this drop, HealthSource has posted enrollment increases almost every year since Affordable Care Act exchanges launched in 2013.

How did we get here?

Last year, the Republican-controlled federal government declined to extend premium tax credits after a protracted budget battle with congressional Democrats, who are now negotiating to restore the health insurance subsidies.

The lapse in subsidies coincided with an increase in premiums, driven by a combination of factors, which sent the total cost of coverage climbing.

The average premium across HealthSource enrollees more than doubled (101%,) the exchange said, or $111 per person, per month.

Many enrollees opted for cheaper insurance plans despite their higher deductibles and out-of-pocket costs.

Others dropped coverage altogether.

“The increase in premiums, combined with the decrease in federal supports, makes this an incredibly challenging year for folks depending on HealthSource RI for health coverage,” HealthSource Director Lindsay Lang said in the release. “Having health coverage helps protect against one bad turn of luck becoming years of financial burden. We will work with every customer to find options that are best for their needs and budget, and continue to work with state leaders and our federal delegation to find long-term solutions.”

Could help be on the way?

Gov. Dan McKee included $9.5 million in his proposed state budget for the year starting July 1 to subsidize coverage for some of the lowest-income exchange enrollees.

The enrollment declines show that may be too little for some Rhode Islanders, and too late for others.

“It is disheartening but not surprising that, as President Trump’s policies have caused health insurance costs to skyrocket, more Rhode Islanders are struggling to pay for health coverage,” McKee said.

Since the exchange opened in 2013, Rhode Island’s uninsured rate has declined by two thirds, down to 2.2%, HealthSource said.

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Rhode Island

RI Lottery Powerball, Numbers Midday winning numbers for March 9, 2026

Published

13 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at March 9, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from March 9 drawing

22-23-28-36-54, Powerball: 13, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Numbers numbers from March 9 drawing

Midday: 5-7-4-4

Evening: 2-1-3-2

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from March 9 drawing

02-14-16-34-35, Extra: 10

Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 9 drawing

06-16-26-41-43, Bonus: 03

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

Prizes less than $600 can be claimed at any Rhode Island Lottery Retailer. Prizes of $600 and above must be claimed at Lottery Headquarters, 1425 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, Rhode Island 02920.
Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners can decide on cash or annuity payment within 60 days after becoming entitled to the prize. The annuitized prize shall be paid in 30 graduated annual installments.
Winners of the Millionaire for Life top prize of $1,000,000 a year for life and second prize of $100,000 a year for life can decide to collect the prize for a minimum of 20 years or take a lump sum cash payment.

When are the Rhode Island Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 10:30 p.m. ET daily.
Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. ET daily.
Numbers (Midday): 1:30 p.m. ET daily.
Numbers (Evening): 7:29 p.m. ET daily.
Wild Money: 7:29 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Rhode Island editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Rhode Island

Spring And Summer Concert Guide: 10 Can’t-Miss Shows In Rhode Island

Published

1 day ago

March 9, 2026

Press Room

Spring And Summer Concert Guide: 10 Can’t-Miss Shows In Rhode Island

Whether with a stop on a national or international tour or a regional favorite, the spring and summer concert calendar is filling up in Rhode Island.

The Ravers, Newport’s reggae band, comes to Rhode Island in April. There are plenty of concerts in the area that will have you dancing all spring and summer long, including some regional favorites.

We’ve rounded up 10 concerts in Rhode Island that are worth getting on the calendar. And speaking of calendars: Are you planning an event this spring? Feature it, so nearby readers see it all across Patch — including in roundups like this!

Here’s what you need to know about upcoming concerts:

Candlelight: Tribute to Queen and The Beatles, March 20, Bishop McVinney Auditorium, Providence
Soulful Sounds in Pawtucket, April 3, Hope Events on Main, Pawtucket
Ravers Night! April 11, Newport Vineyards & Winery, Middletown
Corvettes — Doo Wop Revue, April 19, Courthouse Center for the Arts, Kingstown
“Dancing at the Forty Steps” – Newport Irish Heritage Month flagship event, March 29, the Forty Steps on Cliff Walk, Newport
Newport Classical: Yevgeny Kutik & Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner, April 10, Newport Classical Recital Hall, Newport
Newport Classical: Zijian Wei performs Ravel and Liszt, May 8, Newport Classical Recital Hall, Newport
Newport Classical Finale: Amir Hoshang Farsi and Chelsea Wang, June 5, Newport Classical Recital Hall, Newport
An Evening With John Legend, April 26, Providence Performing Arts Center, Providence
Ani DiFranco with Special Guest Valerie June, May 8, Providence Performing Arts Center, Providence

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