Relative of White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt arrested by ICE

A woman connected to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has been taken into ICE custody following an arrest near Boston earlier this month. Bruna Caroline Ferreira, a Brazilian national and mother of Leavitts nephew, was apprehended on November 12, according to her lawyer, Todd Pomerleau.

Leavitts nephew resides full-time in New Hampshire with his father, Michael Leavitt, Karolines brother, a source told CNN. The source added that Ferreira and the press secretary have not communicated for several years.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that Ferreira had overstayed a tourist visa that required her departure in June 1999, describing her as a criminal illegal alien from Brazil with a previous battery arrest and noting she is in removal proceedings.

Pomerleau disputed the DHS characterization, asserting that Ferreira has no criminal record and is not a criminal illegal alien. He said Ferreira was previously protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which shields certain individuals brought to the U.S. as children from deportation. She was unable to renew her DACA status during efforts to terminate the program under former President Donald Trump but is currently pursuing legal avenues for U.S. citizenship.

Ferreira was detained while driving to pick up her son in New Hampshire. She shares joint custody of their 11-year-old with Michael Leavitt. Ferreira is now held at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Basile, about 80 miles from Baton Rouge and over 1,500 miles from her arrest location.

Michael Leavitt said his son has not spoken to Ferreira since her detention, though she has maintained a relationship with him previously. He described the situation as challenging and emphasized his priority is his sons well-being.

A GoFundMe campaign, managed by Ferreiras sister Graziela Dos Santos Rodrigues and verified by her attorney, has raised more than $15,000 for legal fees and related expenses. The campaign highlighted that Ferreira was brought to the U.S. as a child in December 1998 and has since aimed to build a stable life while maintaining her legal DACA status.

The DHS has indicated that DACA recipients are not automatically shielded from deportation, with Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin emphasizing that the program does not grant legal status.

Analysis: ICE Detention of Karoline Leavitt’s Relative Raises Questions about Immigration Policy

The recent arrest and detention of Bruna Caroline Ferreira, a Brazilian national and relative of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, sheds light on the complexities of U.S. immigration policies, particularly the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Ferreira, who was brought to the U.S. as a child, has spent most of her life in the country, and yet, despite her previous DACA protection, she now faces removal proceedings for overstaying her tourist visa, which expired in 1999.

While Ferreira's lawyer disputes the characterization of her as a "criminal illegal alien," the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has made it clear that overstaying a visa, along with a past battery arrest, has led to her detention. The argument that Ferreira was previously protected under DACA complicates the matter, as the program, which shields individuals brought to the U.S. as minors from deportation, does not guarantee permanent legal status. This distinction raises concerns about the vulnerabilities of DACA recipients, who, as seen in Ferreira's case, remain at risk of deportation if they fail to maintain or renew their status.

The timing of Ferreira's arrest, just as she was en route to pick up her son in New Hampshire, adds an emotional dimension to this case. Ferreira shares joint custody of her 11-year-old son with Michael Leavitt, Karoline's brother, and has maintained a close relationship with him despite her legal troubles. The abrupt separation of mother and child has clearly placed stress on the family, with Michael Leavitt emphasizing the importance of his son’s well-being during this difficult time.

As this case unfolds, the financial burden of legal representation has prompted a GoFundMe campaign, which has already raised over $15,000. The funds are meant to cover legal fees and related costs, underscoring the financial strain on families caught up in the complexities of immigration enforcement.

The situation serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by individuals like Ferreira, who seek to live peacefully in the U.S. while navigating an immigration system that offers no clear path to citizenship for many DACA recipients. While the current administration has taken steps to preserve DACA, the lack of legislative action on comprehensive immigration reform leaves many in a precarious position, as Ferreira's case poignantly demonstrates.

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• Woman with family ties to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt arrested by ICE