A close relative of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has been taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, creating an unusual situation for the Trump administration's immigration enforcement team.
Family Connection and Detention Details
The detained individual has been identified as Bruna Caroline Ferreira, who is the mother of Leavitt's nephew. According to immigration authorities, Ferreira was characterized as a criminal illegal alien from Brazil when she was apprehended in Revere, Massachusetts.
The circumstances surrounding her detention reveal that Ferreira allegedly remained in the United States after her tourist visa expired in June 1999, according to a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson who spoke with NBC News. The situation became more complicated when authorities noted she had previously been arrested on suspicion of battery, though the resolution of that case remains unclear.
Current Status and Legal Proceedings
Ferreira is currently being held at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center while awaiting removal proceedings. Under the current administration led by President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, all individuals unlawfully present in the United States face potential deportation.
However, Ferreira's legal representative, attorney Todd Pomerleau, presents a different picture of his client's situation. Pomerleau insists that Ferreira came to the United States with her family as a child and has maintained her legal status under the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, commonly known as DACA.
The lawyer further emphasized that Ferreira is actively pursuing permanent residency through a green card application and maintains no criminal record whatsoever despite the allegations made by immigration officials.
Family Dynamics and Personal Impact
The family situation involves complex relationships and concerns for the wellbeing of Ferreira's son. Michael Leavitt, Karoline Leavitt's brother and the father of Ferreira's child, confirmed to WMUR that while the boy has lived full-time in New Hampshire with him and his stepmother since birth, Ferreira has maintained a relationship with her son over the years.
The child has not been in contact with his mother since her detention several weeks ago, according to family sources. Michael Leavitt expressed that his primary concern has always been the safety, wellbeing, and privacy of his son throughout this difficult situation.
Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has chosen not to comment publicly on Ferreira's detention. Sources close to the situation indicate that the two women have not spoken in many years, creating additional distance between the political figure and the immigration case.
A GoFundMe campaign organized by Ferreira's sister, Graziela Dos Santos Rodrigues, seeks to raise funds for legal expenses and related costs. The fundraising page describes how Ferreira was brought to the United States by her parents in December 1998 when she was just a child, entering the country legally with a visa.
The family's statement emphasizes that Ferreira has done everything possible to build a stable, honest life in the United States, maintaining her legal status through DACA and following all requirements while striving to do the right thing.
