Key Takeaways:

• Russian Harvard researcher Kseniia Petrova detained by ICE after her visa was revoked upon returning from France.
• Petrova is accused of failing to declare non-infectious frog embryos, which she was bringing back for research.
• She faces potential deportation to Russia, where she fears political persecution due to her anti-war protests.
• A crowdfunding campaign has been initiated to support her legal expenses during this ordeal.

Kseniia Petrova, a researcher at Harvard Medical School, has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after her visa was revoked upon her return from France. Petrova was stopped at Boston Logan International Airport on February 16, where U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) found frog embryos in her luggage, which she did not declare. This incident led to significant legal troubles for the scientist, as reported by India Times and others.

Petrova, who specialized in genome research, expressed unawareness of the need to declare the embryos, which were intended for her research at Harvard. Despite her valid work visa and legal entry into France, the CBP officer marked her visa as canceled after the discovery of the samples without pursuing standard protocols for such violations. Normally, failing to declare an item could result in a fine rather than immediate deportation, according to her attorney, Gregory Romanovsky, who criticized the situation as an overreach of authority.

Petrova's prior activism against the Russian invasion of Ukraine led to her arrest in Russia. Fearing for her safety upon deportation, she requested to return to France instead, but was placed into detention instead. Her attorney argues that the penalties imposed by immigration authorities were excessive and unjustified given the circumstances. Romanovsky stated, "This overreach reflects broader concerns about the treatment of international scholars by U.S. immigration authorities," as highlighted by The Hill.

As her legal battle unfolds, a crowdfunding campaign has been launched to assist her with legal fees while advocates continue to raise awareness of her case. The Department of Homeland Security has justified Petrova's detention, claiming she deliberately attempted to evade customs regulations. However, her supporters maintain that her situation illustrates a critical breach of due process for international scholars in the U.S.

Petrova’s hearing is set for a date that remains pending, as calls for her release grow amidst fears of what awaits her should she be forced to return to Russia. With her unique visa situation, it remains to be seen if the U.S. will prioritize her safety over immigration regulations.

For more details, visit the original reports from TRT Global, ABC News, and The Hill.