A federal grand jury has indicted Kseniia Petrova, a Harvard researcher, on multiple criminal charges, raising significant concerns for international academics.
Russian Scientist Indicted for Smuggling at Harvard
Russian Scientist Indicted for Smuggling at Harvard
A Harvard researcher faces serious charges after being detained for failing to declare scientific samples upon re-entering the U.S.
In a striking case highlighting the intersection of science and immigration law, a grand jury in Boston has indicted Kseniia Petrova, a 31-year-old Russian researcher affiliated with Harvard Medical School, on charges of smuggling goods into the United States and providing false information to customs officials. Petrova was detained in mid-February after returning from a vacation in France, where she failed to declare frog embryos she transported upon her supervisor's request. Her detention lasted more than three months in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility, garnering international attention as advocates decried the government's actions as overly punitive for a noncitizen scholar.
The indictment includes serious charges against Petrova: the smuggling offense, which could result in a prison term of up to 20 years or a fine of $250,000, in addition to two counts related to material concealment and making false statements—each carrying potential penalties of up to five years and similar fines. While Petrova has admitted to not declaring the samples, her legal representative contends this typically results in mere fines for oversight rather than severe criminal charges. The customs official's drastic measures led to the cancellation of Petrova’s visa and the initiation of deportation proceedings, which she contested, citing fears of persecution upon return to Russia.
The case has drawn scrutiny, notably from Christina Reiss, the chief judge of the U.S. District Court in Vermont, who expressed doubts about the justification for Ms. Petrova's visa revocation. She remarked that the evidence reviewed does not substantiate the immigration officer's actions, further complicating the proceedings and spotlighting the precarious status of international researchers in the U.S. as the situation develops.
