A federal judge in Vermont ruled that Harvard scientist Kseniia Petrova’s visa was unlawfully canceled after she was detained at Boston Logan International Airport for carrying biological samples. The decision, issued Tuesday, stated that the cancellation was "impermissibly canceled" and arbitrary, marking a legal victory for Petrova, who has fought the decision for over a year.
Petrova, a Russian-born researcher at Harvard University’s Kirschner Lab, was detained in February 2023 after returning from Paris. She was questioned about frog embryo samples she had obtained for research, leading to her visa cancellation and brief detention. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed Petrova lied to federal officers, while she maintained confusion over customs procedures.
The ruling, by U.S. District Court Judge Christina Reiss, found that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers exceeded their authority by canceling Petrova’s visa over the samples. Petrova’s attorney, Gregory Romanovsky, called the decision a step toward correcting an unjust action. Petrova has since returned to her research, which focuses on advanced imaging technology for cancer diagnostics.
The case has raised questions about government power at borders and the treatment of researchers carrying biological materials. DHS did not immediately respond to requests for comment.