• Federal judge grants immigration bail to Harvard researcher Kseniia Petrova.
• Petrova faces criminal charges for allegedly smuggling frog embryos.
• The judge noted inadequate legal basis for her initial detention.

A federal judge in Vermont has granted bail to Kseniia Petrova, a Russian scientist affiliated with Harvard University, after ruling that her immigration detention was unjustified. Judge Christina Reiss stated during the court hearing that there was “no factual or legal basis” for the actions taken by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities in February after frog embryo samples were discovered in her luggage at Logan Airport in Boston. Reiss expressed concern for Petrova's well-being, stating that “her life and well-being are in peril if she is deported to Russia”, according to The New York Times.

Despite being granted bail in her immigration case, Petrova still remains in custody due to criminal charges filed against her. She faces allegations of attempting to smuggle undeclared biological samples into the United States, which could lead to a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and significant fines. Judge Reiss noted that the embryos were “non-hazardous, non-toxic, non-living”, suggesting they posed no threat, as reported by Reuters and ABC News.

Petrova's lawyer argued that she has been unfairly punished under immigration law, rather than being subjected to appropriate penalties for her alleged customs violation. The judge agreed that the circumstances surrounding her case were “extraordinary and novel”. Petrova had been held in a federal prison in Louisiana since her arrest, and a hearing regarding her criminal charges is anticipated soon, according to ABC News and Reuters.

The backdrop of the case is significant, as it surfaces amid heightened tensions regarding immigration policies and deportations under the current administration. Petrova's fears about deportation to Russia, where she has faced persecution for her political beliefs, add another layer to her legal battles, as stated in reports by ABC News and Reuters.