Kseniia Petrova has been in the united States on a ⁢J-1 fellow visa since May 2023,working at Harvard University. Her lawyer, Gregory Romanovsky, indicated that Petrova faces possible deportation to Russia, where she⁢ fears imprisonment for‍ protesting against the invasion of Ukraine.

on Feb. 16, Petrova returned from France to Boston Logan airport after a work trip and⁢ went through⁣ immigration without problems. Though, while waiting for luggage, two Customs ‍and Border Protection (CBP) agents led her to a room to inspect the luggage⁤ and registered her ⁤phone, according to the ⁢lawyer.

Agents found a sample of frog embryos⁣ related to the scientist’s research.

According to ⁢Romanovsky, Thay ⁣found a scientific sample of frog embryos that she brought at the request of her principal researcher, her professor at Harvard, from the France laboratory with whom they collaborate. She carried them in her luggage and did not declare it. She ⁢had‍ no previous experience in the transport of samples. She did not think well.She did not review the⁢ rules. It was her fault.

romanovsky explained that the CBP usually imposes two sanctions for typical customs infractions: confiscation of the item and a fine of about $500.

They did not. Rather, they⁢ decided to ‍punish her by annulling her visa, Romanovsky said. It was then that hell unleashed.‍ They said: ‘Kseniia, we are going to cancel the visa. We will ride you again⁣ on the⁣ plane to Paris.’

According to article 212 of the Immigration and Nationality Law, several reasons ⁣can preclude entry to the United states, including issues related to health, criminal records, and terrorism. Romanovsky said that, although the CBP can cancel visas, it needs a reason⁢ that⁢ justifies it, which he argues was not present in Petrova’s case.

Instead, the agency gave petrova two options.The first ⁣was to withdraw her request for admission to the United States and leave voluntarily, with the opportunity to go to an embassy in another country and request a visa to re-enter the country. the second was for the CBP to issue an accelerated expulsion order and put her on a plane back to Paris.However, due⁤ to the prohibition of ‍re-entry under an expulsion order, she could not return⁣ for at least five years.

Romanovsky said Petrova decided to withdraw her admission application.

According to her lawyer, petrova said, Please, put me again on the plane to France, I’m going to do what⁣ they tell me. I’m going to request a visa. I want to do the right thing. Then, according to Romanovsky, the agents asked, Okay. Do you want us ⁤to notify what happened today to the Russian government or the Russian consulate?

Her lawyer pointed out that Petrova⁢ told them not to notify the ⁢Russian consulate, saying, I can’t go to Russia.There they will chase me.

Petrova has a history of persecution there for‍ her political activity, Romanovsky said. She was arrested in‍ Russia in 2022 for protesting against the war in Ukraine, according to The Harvard Crimson.

Romanovsky stated, she has been arrested there, and her arrest and her activity in social networks⁣ will almost surely assure her a good and strong jail sentence, so at that ‍time she said: ‘I cannot return to Russia.’

Petrova’s detention occurs amid increased scrutiny of foreign‍ students, including visa revocations. While some revocations have been linked to activism related to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, Petrova’s case appears unique, as her activism is related to opposition to the Russian war in Ukraine.

Romanovsky said that the CBP then followed what is⁢ called a credible fear process, in which non-citizens can claim that they have a credible fear of persecution or torture and request⁣ asylum in the united States. In that case, the person who presents their case is questioned before‍ an immigration judge.

This is where she is right now ⁣as she has proven ⁤to have a credible fear, added the lawyer.

She is now ⁢waiting for a hearing before an immigration judge in Jena, Louisiana, set for May 7.

Though, even though the immigration judge grants asylum, the government can ⁢appeal and ‍continue to keep her ‍detained.

I would love to say that she will know what ⁣to expect in a couple of months, and that she will be released if they approve it, but‍ we do not know, Romanovsky⁣ added.

At the same time, Romanovsky said, they have ⁣a pending demand against the Department of homeland Security (DHS) and the CBP in the Vermont district, where she was detained before being transferred to Louisiana. The demand⁢ hearing, in which the undue revocation of the visa and her initial arrest are alleged, is scheduled for June ⁢9.

Romanovsky advocates for Petrova’s release while waiting for her hearing in Immigration Court.

She is undoubtedly a victim of the new indiscriminate detention policy, which retains people and does not release them, without taking into⁢ account if they⁢ represent ⁣a threat to someone ⁣or if there is a risk of escape, Romanovsky said. It really ⁣makes no sense to continue⁣ retaining her;⁣ it is only occupying space. she is not a danger to the community. She is not a risk of escape.

The lawyer described Petrova as a brilliant scientist and a person very, very sweet. She is a very good friend and a person very trustworthy, reliable, and friendly.

romanovsky added that Petrova’s principal investigator at ‍Harvard‍ asked the lawyer to provide letters from Nobel laureates in support of Kseniia.

Harvard confirmed in a statement that she is an associated researcher at Harvard Medical School: we are monitoring this situation.

The DHS did ⁤not promptly respond to requests for comment.