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Wednesday, April 1, 2026

Category: Immigration
April 2, 2025
Education
Immigration

Colorado Universities Report DHS Has Revoked Several Student Visas.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revoked the F-1 visas of nine students from the University of Colorado and Colorado State University.

👥 Who’s Involved: The students affected were from the University of Colorado’s Boulder and Colorado Springs campuses, as well as Colorado State University.

📍 Where & When: Colorado; the situation was reported on April 1, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “If you lie to us and get a visa, then enter the United States, and with that visa, participate in that sort of activity, we’re going to take away your visa,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

⚠️ Impact: The visa revocations further demonstrate that the Trump administration is serious about removing foreign students engaging in political agitation.

IN FULL:

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has revoked the F-1 visas of nine international students attending universities in Colorado, according to statements from the University of Colorado (CU) and Colorado State University (CSU). The impacted students include four from CU and five from CSU.

Specific reasons for the revocations remain unclear, and it is not confirmed whether the students face any criminal accusations. However, last week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio disclosed that over 300 student visas have been revoked by the Trump administration due to the students having participated in pro-Hamas demonstrations on university campuses.

“If you apply for a visa to enter the United States and be a student, and you tell us that the reason why you’re coming to the United States is not just because you want to write op-eds, but because you want to participate in movements that are involved in doing things like vandalizing universities, harassing students, taking over buildings, creating a ruckus, we’re not going to give you a visa,” Sec. Rubio said, adding: “If you lie to us and get a visa, then enter the United States, and with that visa, participate in that sort of activity, we’re going to take away your visa.”

Once an international student’s visa is revoked, they are no longer allowed to remain in the United States, and deportation proceedings can be initiated if they refuse to return to their country of origin. The National Pulse has previously reported on the attempted deportation of former Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, allegedly a key instigator of anti-Semitic unrest and intimidation on the school’s campus. Khalil is currently suing the Trump administration to block his deportation and successfully secured a temporary order from a federal judge preventing his immediate removal.

Both CU and CSU have decided not to divulge the identities of the affected students.

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April 2, 2025
Jack Montgomery
Immigration
News

Texas House Declares Annual ‘Pakistan Day.’

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: The Texas House of Representatives passed a resolution to officially recognize March 23 as “Pakistan Day.”

👥 Who’s Involved: State Representative Dr. Suleman Lalani, Pakistan’s Consul General in Texas Muhammad Aftab Chaudhry, and House Speaker Dustin Burrows.

📍 Where & When: Texas House of Representatives, late March.

💬 Key Quote: “Today, we celebrate Pakistan’s rich history, resilience, and vibrant cultural heritage.” — Rep. Suleman Lalani.

⚠️ Impact: This resolution dedicates a day to celebrating Pakistan annually in Texas, underlining the growing cultural impact of immigration on the United States.

IN FULL:

A resolution recognizing March 23 as “Pakistan Day” has been passed by the Texas House of Representatives. Democratic State Representative Dr. Suleman Lalani, a Pakistani immigrant, introduced the resolution, highlighting the cultural heritage of fellow Pakistanis, to mark 85 years since the Pakistan Resolution, also known as Qarardad-e-Pakistan.

“This pivotal moment in 1940 laid the foundation for Pakistan’s independence and remains a source of pride for Pakistanis worldwide,” he said.

At the Texas House, Pakistan’s Consul General in Texas, Muhammad Aftab Chaudhry, was present to witness the event. Consul General Chaudhry met with House Speaker Dustin Burrows, expressing appreciation for the support in passing the measure. The consul general also took the opportunity to invite Speaker Burrows, alongside a delegation of state representatives and Texas business leaders, to visit Pakistan.

Despite its reputation as a conservative state, the GOP delegation in the Texas House is unusually left-leaning. Burrows, a BlackRock-linked Republican, owes his position to Democratic votes, with more Republicans having voted for rival candidate David Cook. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick remarked at the time, “This may be the first time in our nation’s history where the minority party openly elected the speaker of a legislative body instead of the majority party.”

Similarly, Burrows’s predecessor, Dade Phelan, allowed Democrats to drive much of the House agenda, including a shambolic impeachment effort against Attorney General Ken Paxton, an America First ally of President Donald J. Trump.

Following the House proceedings, Consul General Chaudhry attended a Ramadan iftar dinner at the Texas Capitol, hosted by Dr. Lalani. This gathering included members from both legislative houses and local dignitaries.

WATCH:

Image by Susmanhamza.

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April 1, 2025
Immigration

March Sees Record Low in Illegal Border Crossings.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Illegal crossings at the southern U.S. border declined significantly in March.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump and U.S. Border Patrol.

📍 Where & When: Southern U.S. border in March.

💬 Key Quote: “Migrant crossings have slowed to a near halt” as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

⚠️ Impact: A sharp reduction in illegal crossings, reaching a 97 percent decrease compared to March 2022.

IN FULL:

In March, the number of unauthorized crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border fell sharply, marking a significant decrease from previous years. Under the administration of President Donald J. Trump, the U.S. Border Patrol registered encounters with 7,181 migrants attempting to cross into the United States unlawfully. This marks a substantial drop compared to March of the preceding years under former President Joe Biden, where figures were recorded at 137,473 in 2024, 163,672 in 2023, and 211,181 in 2022.

The term “Trump Effect” has been attributed to this drastic reduction, with proponents crediting specific policies aimed at bolstering border security. The Los Angeles Times reported a notable decline in apprehensions along the California-Mexico border. Where once daily arrests numbered over 1,200 during peak migration periods in April, current figures suggest only 30 to 40 such instances per day.

Since taking office this past January, President Trump has deployed members of the U.S. military to the southern border and secured an agreement with Mexico that has seen thousands of Mexican National Guard soldiers dispatched to the Mexican side of the border. The increased military presence from both countries and the surge in federal law enforcement, including agents from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) criminal division, have helped to deter unlawful crossings significantly.

Additionally, Trump’s mass deportation initiative—led by White House border czar Tom Homan—has discouraged many would-be illegal immigrants from attempting to make the dangerous multi-country trek to the United States through Central America. The prospect of immediate deportation from the U.S. back to their country of origin is seen by many as not worth the physical or financial risk of attempting unlawful entry.

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April 1, 2025
Immigration
Lawfare

Congressman Seeks Expedited Removal of Judge Blocking Trump Deportations.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: A resolution has been introduced by a Republican congressman that aims to dismiss a judge who halted deportations to El Salvador under President Donald J. Trump.

👥 Who’s Involved: Representative Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Judge James Boasberg, President Donald J. Trump, and U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.

📍 Where & When: Resolution introduced in Washington, D.C., March 31, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “We cannot stand by while activist judges, who incorrectly believe they have more authority than the duly-elected President of the United States, impose their own political agenda on the American people.” — Rep. Andy Biggs.

⚠️ Impact: Could trigger a constitutional crisis if the resolution bypasses the traditional impeachment process, with legal challenges expected.

IN FULL:

Congressman Andy Biggs (R-AZ) is moving to remove U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg, who is impeding the deportation of Venezuelan gang members and other violent, illegal immigrant criminals to El Salvador’s CECOT prison facility. The resolution, introduced late Monday night, proposes a simplified procedure to remove a federal judge that would bypass the requirement of two-thirds of the Senate to vote in favor of removal after a standard impeachment process. Instead, Biggs’s resolution cites the Constitution’s “good behavior” clause for judges as grounds for removal.

The controversy began when Judge Boasberg issued an order on March 15, 2025, restricting the Department of Justice (DOJ) from deporting certain Venezuelan nationals until the case particulars were reviewed comprehensively. However, Boasberg’s order came as several deportation flights were already in the air and over international waters, and they were unable to be recalled. This led the judge to accuse the Trump administration of non-compliance and question the DOJ’s cooperation.

According to Congressman Biggs’s resolution, Judge Boasberg has violated his judicial oath by interfering with presidential authority for political motives. The resolution implies that Congress can dismiss a judge based on not maintaining “good behavior,” referencing constitutional provisions. Notably, Biggs has introduced a joint resolution, which will require a Senate cosponsor to move through both chambers of Congress.

“We cannot stand by while activist judges, who incorrectly believe they have more authority than the duly-elected President of the United States, impose their own political agenda on the American people,” Rep. Biggs said in a statement after introducing the resolution. However, the Arizona Republican’s joint resolution removing Boasberg will likely face formidable legal hurdles, particularly in terms of whether it can effectively bypass the traditional impeachment process. If it gains approval from both legislative chambers, court challenges are anticipated.

President Donald J. Trump had previously suggested impeachment for Boasberg, a notion rebuked by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. Roberts argued that impeachment is inappropriate for “disagreements” over judicial decisions, advising reliance on the standard appellate procedure.

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April 1, 2025
William Upton
Immigration
Media

MS-13 HOAX ALERT: Media, Democrats Spin Gang Member Deportation Into ‘Maryland Father of 3’ Sob Story.

PULSE POINTS: 

❓What Happened: Vice President J.D. Vance is slamming corporate media outlets—including The Atlantic and POLITICO—for misrepresenting the immigration case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an El Salvadoran national and MS-13 gang member deported from the U.S.

📍Where & When: The case dates back to a 2019 immigration ruling under the Trump administration. The media coverage and political backlash surfaced in March–April 2025.

🧑‍⚖️Who’s Involved:
– Kilmar Abrego Garcia: Determined by a federal immigration judge to be a member of MS-13 and a danger to the community.
– J.D. Vance: Vice President, refuting media claims and citing court documents.
– Jon Favreau: Former Obama speechwriter, accused Trump team of sending an “innocent father” to a “torture dungeon.”
– Kyle Cheney: POLITICO reporter claiming Garcia had not been convicted.

📄Key Facts:
– In 2019, a judge denied bond and ruled Garcia a flight risk and community danger.
– Immigration court found sufficient evidence he was a member of MS-13.
– Deportation order was issued—but not to El Salvador due to withholding protections.
– Media reports ignored or downplayed gang affiliation, painting Garcia as a sympathetic figure.

💬Key Quote:
“My comment is that according to the court document you apparently didn’t read he was a convicted MS-13 gang member with no legal right to be here.” – Vice President J.D. Vance

⚠️Fallout:
– Vance accused the media of running a “propaganda operation” to vilify Trump-era immigration enforcement. POLITICO’s Kyle Cheney and The Atlantic have been criticized for selectively citing legal documents and downplaying criminal affiliations.

THE FULL STORY:

The corporate media is being called out by Vice President J.D. Vance for failing to accurately report the facts of an immigration case where Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an El Salvadoran national and alleged member of the violent MS-13 criminal gang, was deported to his home country. While federal attorneys have acknowledged a U.S. immigration judge had issued an order preventing Abrego Garcia’s removal to El Salvador, the corporate media—especially The Atlantic and POLITICO—have attempted to brush the more troubling facts regarding the MS-13 gang member under the rug, instead portraying Abrego Garcia as an innocent father of three.

According to The Atlantic–the same magazine that recently peddled the Signal ‘war plans’ hoax–the Trump administration detained and deported “a Maryland father with protected legal status” to El Salvador—obfuscating Abrego Garcia’s court-determined affiliation with MS-13.

Meanwhile, former Obama White House speechwriter Jon Favreau attempted to make political hay of The Atlantic article with a post on X (formerly Twitter) directed at Vice President Vance, Elon Musk, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stating: “You just admitted to accidentally sending an innocent father from Maryland to a torture dungeon in El Salvador. And you refuse to do anything about it.”

‘A CONVICTED MS-13 GANG MEMBER.’

The post by Favreau prompted Vice President Vance to respond and set the record straight regarding Abrego Garcia’s criminal history.

“My comment is that according to the court document you apparently didn’t read he was a convicted MS-13 gang member with no legal right to be here,” Vance wrote, adding: “My further comment is that it’s gross to get fired up about gang members getting deported while ignoring citizens they victimize.”

In an attempt to pile on, POLITICO legal reporter Kyle Cheney further added to the corporate media obfuscation with the journalist claiming that Abrego Garcia had not been “convicted” of being a gang member. Cheney, instead, states that the El Salvadoran national was merely “denied bond in 2019 over an informant’s claim he was in MS-13. ”

THE 2019 IMMIGRATION CASE.

However, Cheney appears to have only read the current legal filing by Robert L. Cerna, acting field office director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), where ICE acknowledged the protective order barring Abrego Garcia from being removed to El Salvador. A review of Abrego Garcia’s 2019 case before a federal immigration judge reveals—as noted by Vice President Vance—that the court found sufficient evidence to determine that the El Salvadoran national was, in fact, a member of MS-13. The court’s determination is the equivalent of a conviction.

Further, the immigration judge did order his removal from the United States but also issued a grant of withholding—preventing the illegal immigrant from being sent back to El Salvador specifically, as the court found doing so posed a credible threat to his life.

Also of note in the 2019 case—and where Cheney appears to have stopped reading—is the fact that Abrego Garcia was denied bond during the hearing process as the immigration judge found he posed a danger to the community and was a flight risk. Additionally, after Abrego Garcia appealed the bond ruling, the Board of Immigration Appeals upheld the court’s determination—agreeing that the El Salvadoran illegal immigrant posed a threat to the community.

‘MEDIA PROPAGANDA OPERATION.’

The Abrego Garcia is a fairly straightforward example of how the corporate media is desperate to frame the illegal immigration and deportation narrative as one where President Donald J. Trump is removing innocent fathers and mothers and sending them to an El Salvadoran gulag.

However, even in their most touted example of such an alleged instance, the actual facts tell a very different story. Abrego Garcia was determined by an immigration court to be a member of the violent MS-13 gang. Further, the court determined that Abrego Garcia was a danger to the community. That same court ordered Abrego Garcia’s removal from the United States, only barring him from being sent to El Salvador.

As Vice President Vance stated on X: “It is telling that the entire American media is going to run a propaganda operation today making you think an innocent “father of 3″ was apprehended by a gulag.”

READ:

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March 31, 2025
William Upton
Crime
Immigration

Trump Deports Migrant ‘Influencer’ Who Encouraged Illegal Squatting on TikTok.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Venezuelan influencer Leonel Moreno was deported to Caracas after being apprehended by U.S. immigration authorities.

👥 Who’s Involved: Leonel Moreno, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, Venezuelan deportees.

📍 Where & When: Moreno was deported from the United States and arrived in Caracas on a Friday morning in 2025.

💬 Key Quote: Diosdado Cabello noted that “many of the people who were on the flight were upset because his campaign was to point out that Venezuelans in the world are criminals.”

⚠️ Impact: Moreno’s videos urging illegal acts stirred controversy among deportees, requiring heightened security measures during the deportation flight.

IN FULL:

Venezuelan national Leonel Moreno, the infamous illegal immigrant social media influencer who gained notoriety in the midst of the Biden government’s border crisis last year, has finally been deported to Caracas following his arrest in Ohio by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in 2024. Morena first gained social media attention through TikTok, where he amassed over 500,000 followers with content boasting about exploiting American taxpayer funds, illegally squatting in homes,  and encouraging illegal activities.

Upon his return to Caracas, Moreno was one of 178 Venezuelan deportees who landed at Simón Bolívar International Airport. Venezuela’s interior minister, Diosdado Cabello, confirmed the deportation. According to Cabello, Moreno’s presence on the flight caused a disturbance among the other deportees. The Venezuelan interior minister claimed that “many of the people who were on the flight were upset because his campaign was to point out that Venezuelans in the world are criminals.”

The National Pulse previously reported that Moreno’s social media content encouraged illegal immigrants to engage in criminal acts including squatting in unoccupied homes. “I found out that there is a law that says that if a house is not inhabited, we can seize it,” Moreno states in one video, claiming that his friends have “already taken about seven homes.” Moreno went on to argue that illegal immigrants must “invade” unoccupied homes to avoid living on the streets.

In other videos, Moreno claimed to easily acquire money from U.S. aid and mocked individuals with traditional employment. He referred to former President Joe Biden as “Papa Biden” while fanning out an array of American dollars.

While Moreno was finally arrested by immigration enforcement agents last year, his deportation was halted due to Venezuela’s refusal to accept their own citizens back from the United States. However, after the 2024 presidential election, President Donald J. Trump was able to push Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro to begin accepting deportation flights again, clearing the way for Moreno and hundreds of other Venezuelans to be removed.

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March 31, 2025
William Upton
Election Integrity
Immigration

Elon Musk Says 2.1 Million Non-Citizens Got Social Security Numbers in 2024.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Approximately 2.1 million noncitizens reportedly obtained social security numbers in 2024, according to an investigation by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

👥 Who’s Involved: Elon Musk, as DOGE’s frontman, made the claim alongside Antonio Gracias, CEO of Valor Equity Partners.

📍 Where & When: The information was revealed at a Sunday town hall event in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

💬 Key Quote: “This wasn’t an accident. This was a massive, large-scale program under the Biden administration to import as many illegals as possible—ultimately to change the voting map of the United States, disenfranchise the American people, and lock in a permanent deep-blue, one-party state from which there’d be no escape.” — Elon Musk.

⚠️ Impact: The claim highlights potential inefficiencies in the social security system and raises questions about the granting of social security numbers to noncitizens.

IN FULL:

Elon Musk, fronting the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), asserts that a significant number of noncitizens— approximately 2.1 million—acquired social security numbers in 2024. According to the tech mogul, the number of noncitizens—believed to be primarily illegal immigrants—attaining social security numbers has exponentially increased over the last several years, suggesting the federal government had been aware of the issue but chose to ignore it.

The revelations were made during a town hall event in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where Musk appeared alongside Antonio Gracias, CEO of Valor Equity Partners. Gracias presented findings indicating that while only 270,000 noncitizens received social security numbers in 2021, the figure surged to 2.1 million in 2024. He credited the staff at the Social Security Administration for their cooperation in uncovering these inconsistencies.

“This is a mind-blowing chart. This wasn’t an accident,” Musk said during the event. “This was a massive, large-scale program under the Biden administration to import as many illegals as possible—ultimately to change the voting map of the United States, disenfranchise the American people, and lock in a permanent deep-blue, one-party state from which there’d be no escape.”

Notably, Musk’s contention that Democrats use illegal immigrants to game the U.S. Census and alter U.S. electoral maps has been raised by Republicans for some time. Additionally, the fraudulent social security numbers allow illegal immigrants to serve as cheap foreign labor without having to attain government work permits, which would give a better idea of how many unlawful entries are occurring along the southern border.

Concerningly, the illegal immigrants issued social security numbers also appear to be taking advantage of U.S. entitlement programs. “We found 1.3 million of them already on Medicaid as an example. On every benefit program we went through, we found groups from this particular group of people, 5.5 million people in those benefit programs,” Antonio Gracias said. “And then what was really, really disturbing us was why. We’re asking ourselves why. And so we actually just took a sample and looked at voter registration records, and we found people here registered to vote in this population,” he added.

Noncitizen voters have become an increasingly concerning problem in U.S. elections. The National Pulse has previously reported that studies show these illegal voters are more than three times as likely to vote for Democratic candidates. Polling surveys suggest a statistically significant number of noncitizens currently vote in U.S. elections, undermining the integrity of election results.

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March 31, 2025
Crime
Immigration
UK

‘Turkish’ Barber Shops Raided in Drug Money Laundering Crackdown.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Authorities in the United Kingdom have conducted raids on several barber shops allegedly involved in laundering drug money. Tens of thousands of pounds have been seized.

👥 Who’s Involved: The National Crime Agency (NCA) is spearheading the operation with support from local police, immigration officials, and His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.

📍 Where & When: Raids occurred over the past month across multiple British towns and cities.

💬 Key Quote: “Intelligence linking the use of barber shops, as well as other cash-intensive businesses, to money laundering and other criminality has risen in recent years,” noted an NCA spokesman.

⚠️ Impact: The raids aim to curb criminal activity linked to organized crime through increased scrutiny of cash-intensive enterprises such as barber shops.

IN FULL:

British authorities have launched a series of raids on “Turkish” barber shops suspected of money laundering and other illicit activities. Led by the National Crime Agency (NCA), the operations have recovered tens of thousands of pounds from various shops across the country over the past month.

Barber shops, most often labeled as “Turkish” but managed by individuals of different nationalities, are being scrutinized for their cash-only operations. These shops reportedly serve as fronts for money laundering, tax evasion, and illegal employment of migrants. In some instances, inspectors have observed a discrepancy between the declared earnings and the customer activity, noting that multiple barber shops on the same street were reporting high income despite appearing empty.

The proliferation of barber shops in Britain has been noteworthy, with over 750 outlets opening last year alone. There are currently more than 18,000 barber shops across the country, a 15 percent rise since 2018. Intelligence linking cash-intensive businesses like barber shops to organized crime has recently increased.

The growing preponderance of barber shops, vape shops, phone repair stores, and other questionably viable businesses on British streets, usually run by migration-background operators, and the likelihood they are fronts for criminal enterprises has become a significant talking point among the online right.

In 2022, Hewa Rehimpur, a former London barber involved in a human smuggling network, was apprehended for trafficking offenses. This pan-European ring allegedly trafficked thousands of migrants to the United Kingdom on small boats across the English Channel. Rehimpur is now serving an 11-year sentence in Belgium following his extradition and trial.

Image via National Crime Agency. 

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March 28, 2025
William Upton
Immigration
Lawfare
NatSec

Trump Takes Boasberg to the Supreme Court.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: President Trump’s DOJ is appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court after a federal judge blocked the deportation of Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang members using the Alien Enemies Act.

👤Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, DOJ, Tren de Aragua gang members, U.S. Court of Appeals for D.C. Circuit, and the governments of El Salvador and Venezuela.

🧠 Key Quote: “Only this Court can stop rule-by-TRO from further upending the separation of powers—the sooner, the better,” Trump’s legal team argues.

📍Where/When: The TRO was issued earlier this month; the appeal is now before the U.S. Supreme Court.

⚖️ Fallout: The D.C. Circuit refused to stay the order but allowed the appeal to proceed, acknowledging the national security implications. The case may set a precedent in reining in judicial overreach on executive powers.

🔥 Significance: This is a major test of presidential authority in national security, immigration, and foreign diplomacy. If SCOTUS sides with Trump, it could curtail the growing judicial trend of blocking executive actions via temporary restraining orders.

IN FULL:

Continue reading “Trump Takes Boasberg to the Supreme Court.”

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March 28, 2025
Raheem J. Kassam
Immigration

REVEALED: The Bizarre Story of the Anti-Putin Harvard Scientist Who Tried to Smuggle Frog Embryos into the U.S., And Now Fears Deportation.

IN BRIEF.

❓What Happened: A Russian scientist was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after undeclared frog embryo samples were found in her luggage. She claims her anti-war views will have her killed in her native Russia if she is forced to return.

👥 Who’s Involved: Kseniya Petrova, a Russian scientist from Harvard Medical School; Cora Anderson, Petrova’s friend and colleague; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Petrova’s boss, Leon Peshkin.

📍 Where & When: Boston Logan International Airport, February 16. Petrova was initially held in Vermont and later moved to a facility in Louisiana.

💬 Key Quote: “Despite having lawyers and the fact she did not do anything illegal in the first place, she is still there, and we have no idea when she will be paroled,” claimed Cora Anderson, her friend, on Facebook.

⚠️ Impact: A newly invigorated and strict border control operation under the Trump administration is showing the world it will not tolerate law-breaking.

IN FULL.

A Russian scientist affiliated with Harvard Medical School has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after returning from a trip to France. Kseniya Petrova was stopped at Boston Logan International Airport on February 16, according to a Facebook post by her friend and colleague, Cora Anderson.

Authorities revoked Petrova’s visa and intended to return her to France, from whence she came, though anti-Trump activists online have since claimed that the U.S. government was planning to deport her to Russia to be persecuted by Putin’s regime.

Petrova and her allies claim she cannot return to her mother country because she opposed the Ukraine war and called for Putin to be impeached. But, per the Harvard Crimson, if Petrova is indeed deported, it would be to France.

“She currently holds a Schengen visa, which allows her to stay in countries in the European Union’s Schengen area for up to 90 days within a 180-day period,” they reported.

Petrova’s assertion of being unsafe in Russia triggered an asylum claim, leading to her detention before trial on May 7. This has been labeled a stint in the “gulag,” by Trump immigration critics.

But Petrova’s apprehension is linked to the discovery of undeclared frog embryo samples in her luggage, which her friend, Andrei Shevtsov, told the Russian news outlet Agentstvo about. Another colleague suggested a possible error on Petrova’s customs declaration form.

Petrova’s boss at the Harvard Medical School, Leon Peshkin, said she had protested the invasion of Ukraine and called for Vladimir Putin’s impeachment before fleeing Russia. Peskhkin also appeared to take responsibility for her detention per The Guardian:

Peshkin said that Petrova was a highly skilled researcher – “she is spectacular, the best I’ve ever seen in 20 years at Harvard,” – and had a visa that enabled her to work in the US and travel abroad freely. In February, however, when she was in Paris on vacation, her boss “made a huge mistake”. He asked her to pick up a box of frog embryo samples from colleagues in France and bring them back to the lab at Harvard.

The National Pulse has exclusively learned from sources close to the case that Petrova reportedly lied to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, saying she had nothing to declare. A K9 inspection revealed loose vials and Petri dishes containing unknown substances. Petrova later admitted to having embryonic frog cells in her possession, none of which had any permits.

Furthermore, The National Pulse understands that a search of Petrova’s phone revealed messages that told how she planned to try to get past customs without declaring anything, knowingly evading the law.

The National Pulse contacted Harvard Medical School for comment but received no response by the time of publication.

Petrova was a bioinformatician at the Moscow Center for Genetics from 2016–2023, before working for Quantori, a U.S.-based company in Georgia (2021–2022), and the Institute of Gene Biology in Moscow (2023–2024), focusing on population genetics. Currently, she is a research assistant at Harvard Medical School, conducting embryology-related research in a lab.

Initially taken to Vermont, Petrova was subsequently transferred to a detention facility in Louisiana, where she shares a space with around 80 other female detainees. Anderson conveyed via social media that Petrova remains in custody.

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IN BRIEF.

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