The family of Karoline Leavitt’s nephew’s mother, Bruna Ferreira, is speaking out after her detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Ferreira, originally from Brazil, has been held at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center and is at risk of being deported to Brazil, despite having lived in the U.S. since she was a child.
She shares an 11-year-old son, Michael Jr., with Leavitt’s brother, Michael, though the couple has been separated for over a decade.
Ferreira’s case has drawn media attention, particularly due to her familial connection to Leavitt, the White House Press Secretary.
However, the White House has swiftly issued an eight-word statement, which reads: “Karoline had no involvement whatsoever in this matter,” according to WBUR.
The Legal Battle and Claims of Misunderstanding
Ferreira was detained after being accused of overstaying a B2 tourist visa, which expired in 1999, and having a previous arrest for battery.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed her detention and the charges but stressed that, under current policies, all individuals unlawfully present in the U.S. are subject to deportation, regardless of their connections to prominent figures.
"She has a previous arrest for battery. She entered the U.S. on a B2 tourist visa that required her to depart the U.S. by June 6, 1999," a DHS spokesperson told The Daily Beast.
However, Ferreira’s legal team disputes the claims, with her attorney, John J. Loscocco, stating that Ferreira has no criminal convictions.
He expressed confusion over why she was detained, pointing out that she poses no flight risk and is not a threat to the community. "This is unusual," Loscocco remarked.
Family Defends Ferreira and Calls for Help
Ferreira’s family has been vocal in her defense, particularly her sister, Graziela Dos Santos Rodrigues, who spoke to The Boston Globe and emphasized that Ferreira has lived in the US since she was six years old.
"She’s more American than she is anything else," Rodrigues stated, challenging the label of "criminal illegal alien" that has been applied to her sister.
Rodrigues also criticized the lack of support from Leavitt, pointing out that while Leavitt’s father, Bob, has made efforts to reach out to Ferreira, Karoline herself has not been in contact.
"If she were to help in any way, if she were willing to do anything to help us, she would have reached out by now. he has my phone number. We’ve been family for the last 13 years," Rodrigues said.
"I understand the policies and how it looks. But I also think when it comes to family, you put certain things aside. I don’t care who you work for," she added.
The emotional toll on Ferreira’s son, Michael Jr., who lives with his father in New Hampshire, has been significant.
Rodrigues highlighted the hardship her nephew faces, hoping for his mother's return by the holidays.
A GoFundMe campaign launched to cover Ferreira’s legal expenses has raised over $31,310, surpassing the $30,000 goal.
"Anyone who knows Bruna knows the kind of person she is," Rodrigues wrote on the campaign page, describing her sister as hardworking, kind, and always willing to help others.
The controversy surrounding Ferreira’s detention comes against the backdrop of ongoing debates over immigration policy.
Leavitt, who has been a vocal supporter of strict immigration enforcement, previously defended the tough stance taken during the Trump administration.
Earlier this year, she stated: "If you invade our nation’s borders… you are going to be deported… and you may be held at Guantanamo Bay."
Leavitt has often described individuals in violation of immigration laws as “criminals.”