A Russian scientist working at Harvard University is currently in U.S. immigration detention after her visa was revoked last month. The issue? Undeclared frog embryo samples in her luggage.
But the case has taken a serious turn, with fears that if she’s sent back to Russia, she could face imprisonment due to her past protests against the Ukraine war.
From Harvard Lab to Immigration Detention
Kseniia Petrova, a medical researcher, arrived in the U.S. on a J-1 scholar visa in May 2023 to work at Harvard. However, her recent return from a work trip in France turned into a nightmare. Upon landing at Boston’s Logan Airport on February 16, she was stopped by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officers who searched her luggage. That’s when they found the undeclared frog embryos—scientific samples she had brought at the request of her Harvard professor.
Her attorney, Gregory Romanovsky, admitted she made a mistake by not declaring the samples. Normally, such a violation results in a fine and confiscation of the item. Instead, CBP canceled her visa on the spot, leading to her detention.
Fears of Russian Persecution
Petrova is not just a researcher; she is also a vocal critic of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In 2022, she was arrested in Russia for protesting the war. Her lawyer argues that returning to Russia could lead to serious consequences, including imprisonment.
At the airport, officials gave her two choices: leave voluntarily and reapply for a visa from another country or face immediate deportation with a five-year re-entry ban. She chose to leave voluntarily. However, things took a dramatic turn when she told officials, “I cannot go to Russia. I will be persecuted there.”
CBP then placed her in immigration detention, triggering the “credible fear” asylum process. This allows individuals fearing persecution to present their case before an immigration judge.
Legal Battle and Uncertain Future
Petrova is now in a Louisiana detention center, awaiting her hearing scheduled for May 7. Even if she is granted asylum, the government can appeal the decision, keeping her in detention longer. Meanwhile, her legal team has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and CBP, arguing that her visa was revoked unfairly.
DHS, however, claims Petrova “knowingly broke the law” by lying to officers about the biological substances in her luggage. A statement from DHS also alleges that phone messages suggest she planned to smuggle the samples into the U.S. without declaring them.
Her supporters, including Harvard faculty and Nobel Prize winners, are pushing for her release, describing her as a dedicated scientist, not a security threat. Harvard University has also acknowledged the situation, stating that they are monitoring the case.
With a long legal fight ahead, Petrova’s future remains uncertain. Will she be granted asylum in the U.S., or will she be forced to return to Russia, where she fears for her safety? The upcoming hearings will determine her fate.
