1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

Kseniia Petrova's detention is a grave threat not only to crucial scientific advancements but also to her personal safety. As a vocal critic of Putin's war against Ukraine, Petrova faces severe persecution and potential imprisonment if deported to Russia. Her continued detention and potential deportation appear rooted in the Trump administration's hardline immigration policies unduly influenced by Putin's authoritarian regime. Sending this promising Harvard scientist back to Russia directly endangers her life for exercising her right to free speech against the unjust invasion of a sovereign nation. Petrova's skills are invaluable for the groundbreaking cancer detection and longevity research underway, making her release an urgent necessity to safeguard both scientific progress and her well-being as a political dissident. Her case underscores how overly draconian immigration enforcement can suppress innovation by stripping America's institutions of vital international expertise while simultaneously putting vulnerable individuals at risk of brutal reprisal from oppressive regimes.