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A woman with ties to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt 's family is reportedly in ICE custody after being arrested earlier this month.

The woman, Bruna Caroline Ferreira , is from Brazil and the mother of Leavitt's nephew ... she was arrested near Boston on November 12, according to her attorney, who spoke with CNN . Getty

The outlet reports Leavitt's nephew lives full-time in New Hampshire with her brother, Michael . Meanwhile, Karoline has apparently not spoken to Ferreira in years.

A DHS spokesperson tells TMZ ... Ferreira entered the U.S. on a B2 tourist visa that required her to leave the U.S. by June 6, 1999.

The spokesperson describes her as "a criminal illegal alien from Brazil," claiming she has a prior arrest for battery. Gallery Launch G

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