Kseniia Petrova, a Russian medical researcher at Harvard University, is currently being detained at a Louisiana immigration facility after her visa was revoked due to undeclared frog embryo samples found in her luggage. Petrova had been working at Harvard University on a J-1 scholar visa since May 2023.
The issues began on February 16, when Petrova returned from France to Boston’s Logan Airport. After passing through immigration without any problems, two Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officers inspected her luggage and searched her phone, discovering the frog embryo samples. Petrova’s lawyer, Gregory Romanovsky, claims that she had inadvertently failed to declare the samples, which are regulated biological materials.
Petrova is now fighting possible deportation back to Russia, fearing persecution and jail time due to her protests against the Ukraine war. Her lawyer has filed two petitions, including a habeas corpus petition arguing that the cancellation of her visa was unlawful, and an asylum petition claiming that Petrova has a well-founded fear of future persecution if she returns to Russia.
Petrova’s case highlights the challenges faced by international researchers navigating complex immigration laws. Her detention has sparked concerns about the impact of stricter immigration enforcement on academic freedom and global research collaboration.
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