Harvard Researcher Faces Deportation After Detention Over Undeclared Frog Embryos

 

Kseniia Petrova, a Russian-born scientist and research associate at Harvard University, never imagined she would face immigration detention. Yet it has been 68 days since she was stopped at Boston’s Logan International Airport while traveling with undeclared frog embryo samples.

Although Petrova, 30, was in the United States legally, she now finds herself trapped in the U.S. immigration detention system. Her case unfolds against a broader backdrop of intensified deportation efforts in recent years.

After her detention at the airport, Petrova was transferred to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Monroe, Louisiana, where she continues to await a judge’s decision on whether she will be deported to Russia—a country she fled for fear of political persecution.

The Department of Homeland Security accuses Petrova of knowingly breaking the law by failing to declare the biological samples. Friends, colleagues, and advocates, however, insist the incident was a minor infraction that typically would result in a fine, not detention.

Meanwhile, Petrova’s absence is reverberating through Harvard’s research community, where she played a critical role in groundbreaking work, including cancer detection research.

Harsh Conditions in Detention

Speaking by video call from the Louisiana facility, Petrova described the harsh realities of life inside. Holding an outdated phone and trying to block out the constant noise, she spoke of steel bunkbeds, crowded dormitories, and minimal privacy.

"Almost all our life is happening in this dorm," she said, describing food that consists mainly of carbohydrates with little to no fruits or vegetables. Detainees are granted only an hour outside each day—weather permitting—and often sleep shivering under cold conditions.

Petrova is one of 99 women housed together, mostly from Latin America. Many were detained after crossing the border or missing immigration check-ins. Petrova said she knows of no other scientists among them.

"It's hard to live," she said of the relentless noise and discomfort.

How It Started: Frog Embryos and a Customs Check

Petrova had recently been vacationing in France, where she visited a laboratory specializing in the study of frog embryos. She obtained a package of samples for ongoing research work at Harvard.

At the Boston airport, customs officials questioned her about the samples. Petrova insists she did not realize she was required to declare them and was not attempting to smuggle anything. After questioning, her visa was canceled, and she was taken into ICE custody.

The Department of Homeland Security alleges that messages found on Petrova’s phone indicated an intent to bypass customs regulations. Petrova’s mentor, Leon Peshkin, a principal research scientist at Harvard’s Department of Systems Biology, dismissed these claims, emphasizing that the samples were neither dangerous nor biohazardous.

"I don’t think she did anything wrong," Peshkin said. "At most, she should have received a warning or a fine."

Harvard University released a brief statement saying it "continues to monitor the situation."

An Irreplaceable Scientific Mind

Petrova’s skills are critical to Harvard’s research initiatives. She assists with cutting-edge investigations into the earliest stages of cell division, work that requires a highly specialized set of scientific skills.

"She has made herself crucial to pretty much every project in the lab," said Peshkin. "I don’t know how we’re going to continue without her."

Will Trim, a postdoctoral fellow and Petrova’s roommate, described her as essential to projects involving advanced cancer-detection technology.

"Some very important research will end if she’s gone," Trim said.

On Friday, Trim traveled to Louisiana to visit Petrova, who is permitted just one visitor per week.

Immigration Detention and Isolation

Petrova is being held in one of nine immigration detention centers scattered across rural Louisiana, far from major cities and legal support networks. Many detainees describe feelings of extreme isolation.

Louisiana has become a focal point for high-profile immigration cases, such as that of Columbia University activist Mahmoud Khalil.

Petrova fled Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, fearing persecution for her anti-war stance. She believes returning to Russia would place her at immediate risk of imprisonment.

"If I go back, I am afraid I will be imprisoned because of my political position and my position against war," she said.

Earlier this week, a Louisiana immigration judge found the government’s evidence insufficient and gave ICE a deadline to submit stronger documentation.

Broader Impacts on U.S. Science

Petrova’s case is drawing the attention of the broader scientific community, with concerns mounting over the potential chilling effect on recruiting and retaining foreign researchers at U.S. institutions.

"There’s a wrong perception that foreign scientists are privileged to be in the United States," Peshkin said. "In reality, they bring valuable expertise and enrich the American scientific community."

As Petrova awaits her fate, her case highlights the complicated intersection between immigration policy and the world of science—where collaboration across borders is often vital for discovery.