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A woman connected to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s family has been taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to multiple reports. The case comes at a time when the Trump administration is intensifying actions against undocumented migrants, including some individuals previously protected under DACA.
Bruna Caroline Ferreira, who lives near Boston, was detained earlier this month. Her attorney confirmed to CNN that Ferreira is the mother of Leavitt’s nephew, though she and the press secretary have had no communication for years.
Ferreira’s 11-year-old son has been living with his father, Michael Leavitt—Karoline Leavitt’s brother—in New Hampshire since birth.
Ferreira migrated from Brazil as a child and was previously a DACA beneficiary, a program that offers temporary protection to undocumented individuals brought to the U.S. in childhood.
However, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson stated that Ferreira was in the U.S. illegally, claiming she had overstayed a tourist visa that expired in 1999. Officials also mentioned a previous arrest for battery, though it remains unclear whether she was ever convicted.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has not issued any public statement regarding Ferreira’s arrest.
Her brother, Michael Leavitt, told WBUR:
“My only concern has always been the safety, well-being, and privacy of my son.”
Recent reports indicate that several DACA recipients have been targeted in new federal immigration operations. While DACA provides temporary protection and work authorization, it does not grant legal immigration status.
Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told AP:
“People claiming DACA status are not automatically protected from deportation. They can lose eligibility if they commit a crime.”
One individual targeted was reportedly a pro-Palestinian activist whose social media posts drew DHS attention.
According to WBUR, Ferreira’s sister Graziela Dos Santos Rodrigues has launched a GoFundMe page, stating that Ferreira has lived in the U.S. since 1998, followed all DACA requirements, and is now fighting to stay in the country she considers home.
The family wrote that Ferreira’s detention has been especially difficult for her son, who is hoping she returns home before the holidays.
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