Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell has filed an amicus brief in the case of Petrova v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, currently before the U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont. The brief supports Kseniia Petrova, a Harvard University cancer researcher from Russia, who has been detained since February 2025 at an ICE processing center in Louisiana.
AG Campbell's brief opposes the federal government's motion to dismiss Ms. Petrova's petition for release. She argues that this is part of what she describes as "the Trump Administration’s reckless and cruel misuse of power to punish and terrorize non-citizen members of the academic community." AG Campbell emphasizes her commitment to defending international students and faculty who contribute significantly to academic and economic success.
Ms. Petrova, who was conducting research on degenerative diseases under a J-1 visa, was detained after returning from France with undeclared frog embryos intended for research purposes. Customs and Border Patrol agents at Boston’s Logan International Airport denied her entry into the United States and revoked her visa instead of imposing a standard penalty like a fine or forfeiture.
The brief highlights the negative impact of such immigration enforcement policies on Massachusetts' economy and its reputation as a hub for global research institutions. During the 2023-2024 school year, international students contributed significantly to the state's economy, supporting over 35,000 jobs and adding approximately $3.9 billion through various expenditures.
This action by AG Campbell is part of broader efforts to challenge what she views as harmful immigration policies by the Trump Administration. Last month, she co-led a coalition challenging President Trump's "Ideological Deportation Policy," stressing the contributions of non-citizen residents.
The case is being managed by Deputy State Solicitor Tasha J. Bahal, Assistant Attorney General Hannah Vail from the Trial Division, and Special Assistant Attorney General Christophe Courchesne.