The 30-year-old Harvard researcher from Russia has been sitting in ICE detention since February.
U.S. officials accused her of lying about bringing biological materials—yes, frog embryos—into the country.
But now, a federal judge in Vermont says she can be released on bail while her criminal case plays out.
Petrova’s arrest at Boston Logan Airport sparked questions far beyond customs violations.
Her lawyers argue she was unfairly targeted in Trump’s crackdown on foreign academics and say the embryos posed no threat.
“This case is extraordinary and novel,” Judge Christina Reiss said, adding there’s little legal basis for her detention.
Colleagues Defended Her
“She’s not just brilliant—she’s essential,” said lab director Marc Kirschner.
One biotech exec even said he’d hire her “in a heartbeat.”
But the feds aren’t backing down.
“A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right,” said Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Leah Foley.
Petrova admits she made a mistake—but believes her detention is a government overreach.
All she wants now? To get back to her microscope and finish analyzing a cancer research dataset.
A frog embryo may have landed her in jail—but she says science, not smuggling, is her true mission.
