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A Brazilian woman who had been living in the United States for most of her life is being held in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Louisiana as she fights deportation.
The woman, identified as 33-year-old Bruna Ferreira of Revere, Massachusetts, is the mother of the nephew of White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, according to official sources familiar with the case.
Ferreira’s lawyer Todd Pomerleau said she was detained on Nov. 12 after leaving her home in Revere to pick up her 11-year-old son in New Hampshire. Pomerleau said ICE agents stopped her and detained her. She then was taken to Vermont before being moved to Louisiana.
The Department of Homeland Security said Ferreira overstayed a tourist visa and has a prior battery arrest — allegations Pomerleau disputes. He argues that Ferreira arrived in the U.S. as a child and later qualified for DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
“She came here at 6 years old,” said Pomerleau. “Age of 6, and they’re calling her a criminal illegal alien.”
He insists the government’s claims about a visa violation are not correct.
“They’re saying she violated a visa,” he said. “You can’t violate a visa under the immigration laws until six months after your 18th birthday. By then, she already had DACA, which you can’t get if you’re a criminal illegal alien, cause [of] its disqualifying factors for people who have crimes.”
Ferreira shares custody of her son with Michael Leavitt, brother to Karoline Leavitt. A source confirmed the family connection, but said the two women have not spoken in years. The White House press secretary has not publicly commented on the case.
Pomerleau described the past relationship between Ferreira and Michael Leavitt as typical of many young couples.
“Like a modern family,” he said. “They’re two people that were young and in love at one point. They were engaged to be married, and it didn’t work out, like countless others.”
In a statement, DHS described Ferreira as “a criminal illegal alien from Brazil” and said she entered the U.S. on a B-2 tourist visa requiring her departure by June 6, 1999.
Her attorney disputes the agency’s claims and said he has seen no evidence she ever committed a crime.
“Under the immigration laws, she’s following the only processes that she has available to her, and I’ve seen no proof whatsoever that she has ever committed a crime,” Pomerleau said.
Pedro Latorre, a church deacon who lives across from Ferreira’s home, said the situation has been painful for many Hispanic families in the area.
“It’s very painful for the family,” he said, adding that fear has been widespread. “I’m concerned because we know each other, and the problem is that … people are afraid about this.”
Ferreira remains in custody as her attorney seeks bond. A judge could decide on her release by Thanksgiving.
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Oscar Margain
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