A federal judge, Christina Reiss, is set to hear the case of Kseniia Petrova, a Harvard geneticist from Russia who has been detained by ICE since February after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) revoked her visa. Petrova, on a J-1 work-study visa, was returning from France with biological samples when CBP officials deemed her actions—failing to declare the samples—as grounds for revocation. Her attorney claims that the detention was arbitrary and illegal, while the Trump administration defends its actions as lawful due to alleged dishonesty on Petrova’s part.
Petrova was previously involved in Russia’s Genome project and fled her home country due to political persecution related to her protests against the war in Ukraine. Upon landing in Boston, her luggage was flagged for undeclared items. Despite initially being allowed entry into the U.S., her detention initiated an asylum process when she expressed fear of returning to Russia. Petrova has been held in a Louisiana detention center for over three months, without civil or criminal charges against her.
Seventeen U.S. senators, along with Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, have advocated for her release, arguing that the case highlights broader concerns about the treatment of international scholars in the U.S. and the impact on the economy and innovation. The case tests the limits of the federal government’s authority regarding the detention of visa holders, particularly those engaged in academic and research work. Supporters contend that the Trump administration’s actions could deter talented individuals from pursuing educational and scientific opportunities in the U.S.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image of the presented article.
