The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has detained Bruna Caroline Ferreira, a woman with close family ties to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, amid a nationwide immigration crackdown.
Ferreira, originally from Brazil, was arrested in Revere, Massachusetts on November 12 and later transferred to an ICE detention facility in southern Louisiana.
She is the mother of Leavitt’s 11‑year‑old nephew, Michael Leavitt Jr., whom she shares with Leavitt’s brother, Michael.
Ferreira and Michael Leavitt were previously engaged and share custody of their son. Michael has said the boy lives full‑time with him and his wife in New Hampshire but has always maintained a relationship with his biological mother.
“My only concern has always been the safety, well‑being, and privacy of my son,” Michael stated, adding that the boy has not spoken to his mother since her detention several weeks ago.
Sources close to the family told reporters that Leavitt herself has not spoken with Ferreira in years, underscoring the distance between the press secretary and her nephew’s mother.
Immigration Background
Ferreira came to the United States as a child in 1998 after her family left Brazil. She initially entered on a visa and later maintained legal status through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
Reports indicate that her detention stems from overstaying her visa and unresolved immigration status. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson described her as a “criminal illegal alien,” though her family disputes this characterization.
Her relatives have launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover legal expenses, describing her as hardworking and kind. “Bruna has lived in the U.S. nearly her entire life, followed every requirement, and always strived to do the right thing,” they wrote.
Human Impact
Ferreira’s family says her absence has been especially painful for her 11‑year‑old son, who hopes she will return home in time for the holidays.
The case highlights the personal toll of immigration enforcement, particularly when long‑time residents with deep family ties face deportation.
Leavitt, 28, is the youngest person ever to serve as White House press secretary, having risen quickly from her roots in New Hampshire to one of the most visible roles in Washington.
Her family’s connection to Ferreira’s detention has drawn media attention, though insiders stress that Leavitt has had little contact with her nephew’s mother in recent years.
With ICE intensifying operations under President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda, Ferreira’s case shows typically how enforcement affects families who have lived in the U.S. for decades.
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