ICE Detains Brazilian Relative of White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt
REVERE,MA – Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has detained Bruna Ferreira,a Brazilian national and relative of White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt,at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center as of November 12th. The detention has sparked a debate over immigration enforcement and the status of recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
According to a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson, Ferreira is an “criminal undocumented foreigner from Brazil” who overstayed her tourist visa, which expired in June 1999. The spokesperson also stated that Ferreira had an outstanding arrest warrant for suspicion of assault, though the resolution of that case remains unclear.
However, Ferreira’s attorney, todd Pomerleau, vehemently disputes this characterization. he asserts that Ferreira arrived in the United States legally as a child and is currently in the process of obtaining her permanent resident card through DACA. “Bruna has no criminal record. I don’t know where that comes from. Show us the evidence. There are no charges.She is not a criminal or an illegal immigrant; we are hearing that from anyone who is not a U.S. citizen,” Pomerleau stated. He further explained that Ferreira was unable to renew her DACA permit during the Trump governance due to efforts to dismantle the program.
The case is especially sensitive given Leavitt’s prominent role in the White House. While Ferreira is not directly related to Karoline leavitt, she is the partner of Leavitt’s nephew. Leavitt reported that her nephew lives with his father and stepmother in New hampshire, but maintains a relationship with Ferreira. Leavitt’s brother declined to comment on camera, citing concern for his son’s privacy and well-being.
Ferreira’s family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover legal expenses. They state that she was brought to the United States in 1998 and has “done everything in her power to build a stable and honest life here.” They maintain that Ferreira has legal status through DACA,which provides temporary protection from deportation and work authorization to individuals brought to the U.S.as children.
Ferreira’s detention is not an isolated incident. The Associated Press reports that at least 20 DACA recipients, known as “Dreamers,” have been detained by ICE in recent months. despite government claims that ICE prioritizes the detention of criminals, many of those arrested in the recent surge launched by the Trump Administration have no criminal record and have lived and worked in the U.S. for decades.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, clarified that DACA recipients can lose their status “for several reasons, including if they have committed a crime.”
The case raises questions about the scope of immigration enforcement and the vulnerability of DACA recipients, even those with no criminal history, under the current administration.
