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.

Author: Sophia Brooks