Judge questions deportation case of Harvard scientist accused of smuggling frog embryos
An immigration judge has found the U.S. government’s deportation case against Kseniia Petrova, a Russian-born Harvard scientist held in ICE detention, to be legally deficient, her attorney said.
An immigration judge has found the U.S. government’s initial deportation case against Kseniia Petrova, a Russian-born Harvard scientist held in ICE detention, to be legally deficient, her attorney said, raising questions about whether the case can move forward.
The preliminary immigration hearing, held in Jena, Louisiana, included three trial attorneys and a deputy chief counsel from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Petrova’s attorney Greg Romanovsky described their presence as unusual for an early-stage proceeding.
“In my 25 years of practice, I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said.
The judge determined that the Notice to Appear — the official document initiating deportation proceedings — did not meet legal standards, Romanovsky said. ICE has been given one week to file additional documentation to support its charge that Petrova is deportable. A follow-up hearing has been scheduled for July 22 to determine whether the case can proceed.
If the judge rules that the deportability charge is valid, a final hearing on Petrova’s asylum application will be scheduled. Until then, a resolution in the case is likely to be months away, Romanovsky said.
Rating: 5