US EditionDetained Russian-born Harvard scientist criminally charged with smuggling
- Harvard researcher Kseniia Petrova was charged in February 2025 with smuggling undeclared frog embryos into the United States at Boston Logan Airport.
- Petrova’s visa was canceled after U.S. Customs and Border Protection found undeclared scientific samples in her luggage during her return from France.
- She was detained and transferred to an ICE facility in Louisiana while awaiting a judge's decision on her deportation amid claims of wrongful detention.
- Experts describe the chemically fixed frog embryos as harmless and commonly found in educational labs, while Petrova asserts she did not intend to smuggle and was unaware of declaration requirements.
- The case raises concerns about federal immigration enforcement's impact on international scientists and may influence U.S. Scientific collaboration and talent retention.
86 Articles
86 Articles
Bozeman Daily Chronicle
Harvard researcher charged with trying to smuggle frog embryos to be transferred to Massachusetts
MONROE, La. — A federal judge has ordered the transfer of a Russian-born scientist and Harvard University researcher facing deportation from Louisiana, where she was detained by immigration authorities, to Massachusetts, where she has been charged with trying to smuggle…
Harvard Medical Researcher Detained by ICE Faces Charge
The Harvard Medical School research associate and Russian native detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement three months ago and sent to Louisiana now faces a criminal charge—for allegedly trying to smuggle frog embryos into the U.S.
Trump Admin Charges Russian Harvard Scientist Kseniia Petrova with Smuggling
In other immigration news, the Trump administration said it was charging Harvard scientist Kseniia Petrova with smuggling for failing to declare frog samples while she was traveling. Petrova was detained in February and transferred to an ICE facility in Louisiana. She faces political persecution if deported back to her home country of Russia, over her protests against the invasion of Ukraine. Petrova is a highly skilled scientist, whose work cou…
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