Bruna Caroline Ferreira, a family member of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials. Ferreira, the mother of Leavitt's nephew, was taken into custody in Revere, Massachusetts, on November 12. A spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security described her as a "criminal illegal alien from Brazil" who overstayed her tourist visa, which expired in June 1999.

Ferreira has a prior arrest record for battery, although details about the resolution of that case were not provided. The spokesperson noted that under the administration of former President Donald Trump, all individuals unlawfully present in the U.S. are subject to deportation. Ferreira is currently being held at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center while awaiting removal proceedings.

Leavitt's nephew has lived full-time in New Hampshire with his father and stepmother since birth and has never lived with his mother. Michael Leavitt, Ferreira's former fiancé, confirmed that while Ferreira and their son have maintained a relationship, the boy has not been in contact with her since her detention. "The only concern has always been the safety, well-being, and privacy of my son," he stated.

Karoline Leavitt has not commented on Ferreira's arrest, but sources indicate that the two have not spoken in many years. Ferreira's attorney, Todd Pomerleau, claims that she came to the U.S. as a child and has maintained her legal status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. He stated that Ferreira is in the process of obtaining her green card.

A spokesperson for Homeland Security mentioned that DACA recipients can lose their status for various reasons, including criminal activity. However, Pomerleau insisted that Ferreira has "no criminal record whatsoever" and described her as a devoted mother. "She should not be sitting in a jail hours away from her family and from her child’s life. She’s a great mom," he said.

Ferreira was reportedly detained while driving to pick up her son. Her sister, Graziela Dos Santos Rodrigues, described the incident, stating that immigration agents "suddenly swarmed" Ferreira, demanding her name and driver's license, which she did not have. Rodrigues characterized her sister as "more American than anything else" and expressed concern over the treatment Ferreira received during the arrest.

Michael Leavitt reiterated that his primary concern is the well-being of their son, who has not spoken to his mother since her detention. A GoFundMe page has been established by Rodrigues to cover legal fees and expenses related to Ferreira's case. The page has raised over $18,000, with Rodrigues describing the family's situation as one of the most difficult moments of their lives. She emphasized that Ferreira has lived in the U.S. since 1998 and has always strived to maintain her legal status. As of now, Karoline Leavitt has not publicly addressed the situation regarding her family member's detention.