Immigration authorities arrested Bruna Ferreira, a Brazilian immigrant with family ties to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, as part of President Donald Trump’s intensified enforcement operations. Ferreira, who has an 11-year-old son with Karoline’s brother, Michael Leavitt, was detained in Revere, Massachusetts and transferred to an ICE facility in Louisiana. Michael stated that his son has lived with him full-time since birth and has not spoken to Ferreira since her arrest. A source close to the family emphasized that Karoline Leavitt has had no contact with Ferreira for years.
Ferreira’s attorney said she previously qualified for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and was in the process of applying for permanent residency when she was unexpectedly detained shortly before Thanksgiving. ICE, however, claimed she is a “criminal illegal alien” with a past arrest and that she overstayed a tourist visa that required her to leave the U.S. in 1999. Her attorney strongly disputed any criminal history and demanded proof from the government, while not directly addressing her alleged immigration violations.
The arrest comes amid a broader legal victory for the Trump administration. Earlier this month, the U.S. Supreme Court voted 6–3 to allow the administration to resume deporting migrants to third countries while litigation continues. The ruling pauses a lower-court order requiring that migrants remain in U.S. custody and receive a “reasonable fear interview” before removal. The underlying lawsuit involves migrants contesting deportations to nations such as South Sudan, El Salvador, Guatemala, and others, arguing potential risks if sent to those locations.