In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Kseniia Petrova finds herself entangled in an unexpected legal predicament that she never anticipated. Having been detained for 68 days at the Boston airport over unreported frog embryo samples, the Russian-born scientist and Harvard University research associate faces an uncertain future. Although she was legally present in the United States, Petrova is now caught in a detention system spotlighted by President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, which emphasize mass deportations. Currently, she is housed at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Louisiana, anxiously awaiting a judge’s decision that could see her deported to Russia. Petrova fears severe repercussions if returned, including imprisonment.
The Department of Homeland Security accuses her of willfully breaking U.S. law. Meanwhile, her advocates argue that the infraction was minor and typically merits a fine rather than detention. As she languishes in a crowded dormitory, her colleagues warn that critical research, particularly one involving a unique cancer-detecting microscope, might be delayed or disbanded without Petrova’s indispensable expertise.
Describing conditions at the detention center, Petrova recounts life in her dorm as challenging. Conducting a video call from the Monroe facility, she tried to focus amidst the cacophony of various languages and constant chatter. Her surroundings included utilitarian steel bunkbeds and tables, where detainees spent almost all their time. She observed many fellow detainees, primarily from Latin America, including some who crossed the border without authorization. Others had been detained for missing routine check-ins with ICE. In her section, Petrova identified no peers involved in scientific work.
Highlighting the substandard living conditions, Petrova criticized the food quality, describing it as predominantly carbohydrate-laden with scant fruits or vegetables. Recreational time outside is limited to an hour, contingent on weather conditions which often include rain. She notes the dorm’s cold temperatures at night, overly heated showers, and a constant lack of privacy, which cumulatively challenge her daily life.
Petrova’s ordeal traces back to months earlier when, during a holiday in France, she acquired frog embryo samples from a specialized lab, intended for research back in the U.S. At Boston’s Logan Airport, customs officials detained her after questioning the samples. Petrova asserts she was unaware of customs requirements to declare them and did not intend to conceal anything. However, the DHS alleges she misrepresented her intentions and planned to smuggle the samples, based on incriminating messages on her phone.
Her mentor at Harvard, Leon Peshkin, underscores the benign nature of the samples, asserting they posed no hazard. He believes she committed no wrongdoing worth such severe repercussions and suggests a warning or a modest fine would suffice. Harvard University maintains attention on the developing situation.
Petrova’s skills are rare and crucial to her field, says Peshkin. Her expertise is pivotal to research into early cell division using frog embryos. Peshkin admits a significant gap without her contributions. Will Trim, Petrova’s postdoctoral colleague and roommate, echoes this sentiment. Trim emphasizes her pivotal role in developing scripts for a novel microscope, proposing major advancements in cancer detection could stall in her absence.
Aiming to provide support, Trim is on a journey to visit Petrova in Louisiana. With nine detention facilities in the state situated in remote areas, many detainees face isolation from family and legal resources. Louisiana has handled other notable immigration cases, amplifying the complexity of Petrova’s situation. Driven by conflict avoidance and opposition to the war, Petrova fled Russia after the Ukraine invasion in 2022. She fears returning could result in imprisonment for her political views.
Recently, a Louisiana judge deemed the government’s case against her insufficient, allowing a brief window for ICE to strengthen its argument. Petrova’s case captures the attention of the scientific community, causing concern about the potential impact on attracting international scientists to U.S. institutions. Peshkin underscores the misconception of foreign scientists being afforded undue privileges in the U.S., emphasizing their significant contributions and expertise, which enrich the American scientific landscape.