Harvard researcher charged with smuggling frog embryos released from custody
a year ago
- #legal_case
- #scientific_research
- #immigration
- Russian-born scientist Kseniia Petrova, a Harvard researcher, was released on bail after being charged with smuggling frog embryos into the U.S.
- Petrova was detained in February after failing to declare frog embryo samples obtained from a French lab while returning from vacation.
- She claimed she didn’t realize the samples needed to be declared and wasn’t intentionally smuggling them.
- Her visa was canceled after interrogation, and she was detained by immigration officials in Vermont and later Louisiana.
- DHS accused her of lying to federal officers, citing phone messages allegedly showing intent to smuggle undeclared materials.
- A federal judge ruled immigration officers’ actions unlawful, stating the embryos were nonliving and posed no threat.
- Petrova remains in U.S. Marshals' custody on smuggling charges despite being released from ICE detention.
- Colleagues and academics support Petrova, citing her valuable cancer research contributions.