Overview

• Kseniia Petrova, a Russian-born scientist at Harvard, was detained in February for failing to declare frog embryo samples at Boston's Logan Airport.
• Her J-1 visa was revoked, an action her attorney argues is unusually harsh for a first-time customs violation that typically results in a fine or forfeiture.
• Petrova is the sole expert capable of analyzing images from a groundbreaking microscope vital to cancer detection research, now stalled by her detention.
• She is awaiting a May 7 immigration hearing while seeking asylum, citing fears of persecution in Russia due to her anti-war activism.
• The case has heightened concerns among academics about U.S. immigration policies, with experts warning of a potential exodus of international scientific talent.