A Russian scientist and Harvard Medical School researcher remains in ICE detention after officials discovered undeclared biological materials in her possession during a border inspection.
According to The Hill, Kseniia Petrova, whose J-1 scholar visa was revoked over a month ago, now faces potential deportation after customs officers found unauthorized frog embryos and other biological substances she attempted to bring into the country from France.
The incident has sparked immediate action from Senate Democrats, who dispatched an urgent letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Monday. The lawmakers expressed serious concerns about Petrova's detention conditions and the possibility of her facing persecution if returned to Russia, where she was previously arrested for opposing the Ukraine war.
A group of 16 Democratic senators, led by Adam Schiff of California, is pushing for Petrova's release while her asylum case proceeds. Their advocacy highlights growing tension between academic freedom and immigration enforcement under the current administration.
The Department of Homeland Security spokesperson detailed the discovery that led to Petrova's detention. A K9 unit inspection revealed multiple unauthorized items, including petri dishes and vials containing embryonic frog cells, none of which had proper documentation.
According to DHS officials, evidence found on Petrova's phone indicated premeditated attempts to circumvent customs regulations. The department spokesperson stated: "She knowingly broke the law and took deliberate steps to evade it."
Petrova's current living conditions have become a focal point of the senators' advocacy. Their letter to Secretary Noem highlighted the overcrowded conditions where she is being held with approximately 70 other detainees in a single cell.
The researcher's legal team argues that the punishment far exceeds the typical penalty for such violations. They maintain that failing to declare substances typically results in a $500 fine rather than deportation proceedings.
The senators emphasized their position in their letter to DHS:
Absent evidence that Petrova is a flight risk or a danger to the community, we strongly urge you to reconsider ICE's recent decision not to grant Petrova parole and exercise discretion within your authority to release her from detention while her asylum case is pending.
The case reflects a broader pattern in President Trump's immigration enforcement strategy. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently confirmed that the administration has revoked at least 300 student visas.
These visa cancellations particularly affect international students and faculty members who have participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Multiple cases challenging these visa revocations are currently moving through the federal court system.
The situation has created uncertainty within academic institutions as they navigate between protecting their international scholars and complying with increasingly strict immigration policies.
Kseniia Petrova, a Harvard Medical School researcher, awaits a May court hearing to determine her fate after customs officers discovered undeclared biological materials in her possession upon return from France. Her case has garnered attention from Senate Democrats who are concerned about both her detention conditions in Louisiana and the possibility of persecution if she returns to Russia, where she previously faced arrest for anti-war protests. The situation exemplifies the complex intersection of academic research, immigration policy, and international human rights concerns under the current administration's enforcement approach.
