Judge takes step toward possible release of detained Russian Harvard scientist accused of smuggling

A federal judge in Vermont ruled in favor of a Russian Harvard scientist who was detained by ICE and accused of smuggling goods into the U.S. on Wednesday.

Kseniia Petrova, 31, was first detained by ICE before being transferred to criminal custody earlier this month. Wednesday's ruling ensures that if she is granted bail and released at her criminal hearing next week, ICE cannot detain her once again.

President Donald Trump's administration is seeking to deport Petrova back to Russia following her detention at Boston's Logan Airport in February. She has worked as a researcher at Harvard Medical School for more than two years, and colleagues at the school testified in her defense at Wednesday's hearing.

Authorities charged Petrova with smuggling biological material after TSA at the airport allegedly found clawed frog embryos and emb...