Karoline Leavitt's Brother Involved in Difficult Custody Battle With ICE-Arrested Ex

The mother of Karoline Leavitts nephew had been involved in a prolonged and contentious custody struggle with the White House press secretarys brother before being taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement last month, according to WBUR.

Bruna Ferreira, a 33-year-old Brazilian immigrant who shares a child with Michael Leavitt, Karolines brother, was arrested in Massachusetts last month. She is now being held in Louisiana, far from her 11-year-old son, who resides with his father in New Hampshire.

The Department of Homeland Security alleged that Ferreira had overstayed her visa, which expired in 1999, and cited a prior battery arrest. Ferreiras attorney, Todd Pomerleau, countered that she had been living in the U.S. legally, pursuing citizenship through DACA, and had no criminal record. Police records indicate an incident from when Ferreira was 16, where she was summoned to court for assault and battery following a reported altercation in a Dunkin Donuts parking lot.

Ferreira and Leavitts relationship had reportedly been turbulent. Their son was born in March 2014, shortly after Ferreiras divorce from her first husband. Initially, the co-parenting arrangement appeared smooth, but by April 2015, Leavitt filed a custody complaint in New Hampshire, claiming Ferreira had taken their son and car without permission. Leavitt alleged she intended to take the child to Brazil, while Ferreira claimed he threatened to involve ICE to have her deported.

In 2015, the court granted Leavitt temporary sole custody and decision-making authority. The couple continued to dispute custody for about a year until they agreed on shared parenting time, with Leavitt providing child support. In 2020, Ferreira sought full custody, alleging Leavitt owed $70,000 in unpaid support. The court ultimately ruled that the child would stay with Leavitt during the school week, while Ferreira had custody for three weekends a month.

In June 2022, authorities reported Ferreiras home as neglected and filed a suspected child abuse report with the Department of Children and Families. Some speculation emerged linking Leavitt to immigration authorities actions, though he has denied any involvement. The two women have reportedly not communicated in several years.

Ferreiras sister, Graziela Dos Santos Rodrigues, told WBUR there was no animosity between the families. She said she had spoken with Michael Leavitt and his father, who suggested Ferreira consider voluntary departure. Despite this, Dos Santos remains determined to keep her sister in the U.S. and has attempted to contact Karoline Leavitt without receiving a response.

Author: Harper Simmons