Judge Exposes Unlawful Visa Cancellation of Harvard Scientist at U.S. Border
A federal judge has ruled that U.S. authorities unlawfully canceled a Harvard scientist’s visa, escalating scrutiny of immigration enforcement tied to the Trump administration.
According to the Associated Press, Judge Christina Reiss found that Customs and Border Protection overstepped its authority when it revoked Kseniia Petrova’s visa after she carried frog embryo samples into the U.S.
The ruling centers on a key conflict: whether a minor customs issue can justify stripping someone’s legal immigration status and detaining them.
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Reiss said the cancellation was “arbitrary and capricious,” noting it was based solely on the biological samples, not a valid legal ground for visa revocation.
Petrova was detained, moved through ICE custody, and faced deportation despite arguing she didn’t know the samples required declaration.
The case is now raising broader concerns about due process and whether federal agencies exceeded their authority in targeting foreign researchers.
Her immigration victory does not end the case, as criminal charges tied to the same incident are still active.
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