Harvard researcher in Louisiana expects judgment on delivery to Russia

Harvard researcher in Louisiana expects judgment on delivery to Russia

Baton Rouge, Louisiana - Kseniia Petrova never thought that she would be confronted with serious immigration problems. She has been in the internment system for 68 days after she was arrested at the Logan International Airport in Boston while carrying unrolled frog bryo samples. The scientist and employee of the Harvard University born in Russia was Légal in the USA, but is in a situation that is discussed in the national media, while President Donald Trump pursued his promise of mass deportations.

Waiting for the court decision

The 30-year-old Petrova was brought to a detention center from the US immigration authority in Louisiana, where she is waiting for her possible deportation to Russia for a judge, where she is afraid of prison or worse. The Ministry of Internal Security accuses Petrova of deliberately violating the law, while friends and supporters demand their release and point out that the incident would normally only be fined.

difficult conditions in the Detention Center

"The truth is on my side," said Petrova in a video call with the Associated Press, while trying to drown the splash around her in different languages. Behind her were double steel beds, some tables, two microwaves and a television that showed CNN.

"Almost our whole life takes place in this dormitory," said Petrova. Dozens of women moved around them, many of them of Latin American origin, some had illegally exceeded the border. Other immigrants had been in the country for a long time and were arrested at ICE after a missed date. There are also women, of whom Petrova says that they are not recorded for “simply a reason”.

Petrova is no other scientists in the dormitory with 99 women. She described the food in the facility as "absolutely terrible", mainly carbohydrate, without fruit or vegetables. The detainees usually get fresh air, unless it rains what is common in the Bayou state at this time of year.

The nights spend trembling because the dormitory is cold, the showers are burning hot and there is a lack of privacy. The constant noise makes it "difficult to live," she said.

frog chembryons and customs questions

The Ministry of Internal Security stated in a explanation on platform X that Petrova was arrested after "lying on the transport of substances into the country." It was said that news on her phone had "shown that she planned to smuggle the material through customs without explaining it."

Petrova's supervisor and mentor, Leon Peshkin, said that the rehearsals were in no way dangerous or biologically dangerous. "I don't think she did anything wrong," said Peshkin. "Even if she had done it, she should have received a warning or a fine of up to $ 500." In a statement, Harvard said that the university "continues to monitor the situation."

a 'irreplaceable' mind

Petrova has a very special scientific ability necessary for research, said Peshkin, a main researcher at the Harvard Department of Systems Biology. He explained that Petrova supported an investigation into the earliest phases of cell division with frog chembryons. "It has become of crucial importance for almost every project in the laboratory. I don't know how to continue without it," said Peshkin.

Will Trim, a postdoctor and roommate of Petrova, confirmed the description of her scientific value. He worked with her while she writes computer programs to read pictures of a unique microscope that Trim believes that it has the potential to achieve breakthroughs in the cancer diagnosis. "Some very important research will end when it is gone," said Trim.

The effects on the science community

trim.barded a flight to Louisiana on Friday to visit Petrova, who can receive a visitor once a week. The facility is one of nine immigration centers in the state, all located in rural northern or western parts of the state. Many prisoners complained about Isolation , since they are held far from their families and lawyers.

Louisiana has been the center of other top -class immigration cases in the past, including the arrest of mahmoud khalil , an activist from Columbia University. Like many others in custody, Petrova left her country to escape conflicts or possible political repression. She fled after Russia attacked Ukraine in February 2022, which marked the beginning of a three -year bloody war.

"If I go back, I fear that I will be put into prison for my political conviction and my opposition to war," said Petrova.

An immigration judge in Louisiana found Earlier this week that the Federal Government's case was legally inadequate and gave ICE a week to provide stronger evidence. The case of Petrova is closely observed by the scientific community, as some fear that it could affect the recruitment and commitment of foreign scientists at US universities. "I believe that there is a wrong picture that foreign scientists in the United States are somehow privileged. I feel that it is the opposite," said Peshkin. "Foreign scientists come here with skills ... they are highly qualified experts who are in demand. They enrich the American science community."