Kseniia Petrova: Harvard researcher charged with trying to smuggle frog embryos into United States
CNN2 days
Harvard Scientist Charged With Smuggling Frog Embryos
Above: Pedestrians walk through Harvard Yard on the Harvard University campus in Cambridge, Mass., on April 16, 2025. Image copyright: Sophie Park/Contributor/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
These charges are necessary to show the U.S. government is serious about protecting its borders. Petrova, a native of Russia, knowingly attempted to circumvent customs requirements before she was caught at the airport. Her text messages and false statements made to federal officers about the contents of her luggage prove the government is correct to be extra careful about letting her return stateside.
Establishment-critical narrative
The government's actions represent a calculated effort to criminalize a minor customs violation and punish a respected scientist working on crucial cancer and aging research for not being born in America. This case and others show the Trump administration is determined to chill international scientific collaboration and misuse power to terrorize noncitizen academics for unknown reasons.