"Absent evidence that Petrova is a flight risk or a danger to the community, we strongly urge you to reconsider ICE’s recent decision not to grant Petrova parole and exercise discretion within your authority to release her from detention while her asylum case is pending."

"We urge the Administration to ensure full due process in her case and take all appropriate and necessary measures to ensure she is not deported to Russia."

Washington (March 31, 2025) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) joined Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and 14 Senators in sending a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director Todd Lyons urging the release of Kseniia Petrova, a recently detained Harvard Medical School researcher and Russian citizen who had her J-1 scholar visa revoked over a month ago. Petrova has expressed fear of persecution if returned to Russia and has remained at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities since her detainment pending a hearing before an immigration judge on May 7, 2025. 

"Absent evidence that Petrova is a flight risk or a danger to the community, we strongly urge you to reconsider ICE’s recent decision not to grant Petrova parole and exercise discretion within your authority to release her from detention while her asylum case is pending," wrote the Senators.

"Moreover, we are deeply concerned about the possibility that Petrova could face persecution if deported to Russia. We urge the Administration to ensure full due process in her case and take all appropriate and necessary measures to ensure she is not deported to Russia,” concluded the Senators.

According to Petrova’s attorney, CBP officials asked her whether they should notify the Russian government about her detention, to which she is reported to have responded: “I am scared to go back to Russia. I am afraid the Russian Federation will kill me for protesting against them.” Petrova was speaking with fear and certainty. She was previously arrested in Russia for protesting against the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and calling for the impeachment of Vladimir Putin on her Facebook account. 

This letter is signed by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Ill.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Christopher Coons (D-Del),  Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Angus S. King, Jr. (I-Maine.), Tina Smith (D-Smith.), and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.).

Full text of the letter is available HERE. 

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