A Massachusetts woman with past family ties to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has spent more than two weeks in U.S. immigration custody after being arrested while driving to pick up her 11-year-old son, a case that has drawn renewed attention to the treatment of long-term residents with roots in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
Bruna Ferreira, 33, was detained on Nov. 12 during a traffic stop in Revere, Massachusetts, before being transferred through several states and ultimately held at a detention facility in Louisiana, according to her attorney, Todd Pomerleau. He says his client was not informed of the reason for her arrest at the time and maintains she poses no risk to the public.
Pomerleau said Ferreira and her former fiancé, Michael Leavitt, share custody of their son, who lives in New Hampshire. The pair ended their engagement years ago but maintained a co-parenting arrangement that included the child spending frequent nights and weekends with his mother.
“She disappeared from his daily life without warning,” Pomerleau said, describing the incident as a distressing situation for the family. He argued that Ferreira has complied with previous legal requirements and should have been allowed to remain in the community while her immigration status was addressed.
Michael Leavitt did not respond to a request for comment. The White House press secretary also declined comment. Karoline Leavitt, who grew up in New Hampshire and previously ran for Congress in 2022, served as a spokesperson during Donald Trump’s presidential campaign before joining the administration.
Background on Immigration Status and DACA Process
Ferreira was brought to the United States from Brazil at the age of 2 or 3, her attorney said, and later enrolled in the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals initiative, which offers temporary protection from deportation for certain immigrants brought to the country as children. Pomerleau said she was in the process of applying for permanent residency.
The Department of Homeland Security said Ferreira originally entered the country on a tourist visa requiring her departure in 1999. A spokesperson also stated she had a prior arrest for battery, though Pomerleau disputes the claim and said no documentation supports it.
An online search of court records in Massachusetts for locations where Ferreira has previously lived did not show any such charge. Records in New Hampshire indicate two motor vehicle violations from 2020 — speeding and operating an unregistered vehicle — which were conditionally filed without a conviction, contingent on completing a driver safety program and maintaining good behavior. Both matters were cleared after one year.
“They’re citing something we’ve never seen,” Pomerleau said. “If there were a criminal case, she wouldn’t have remained in the country all these years. Yet she’s been transferred across multiple states without explanation.”
A DHS spokesperson confirmed Ferreira is currently being held in Louisiana.
Karoline Leavitt Family ICE Case Highlights Shifting Policy
The Biden administration has continued to face legal and political pressure over the future of DACA, which does not provide legal immigration status but offers renewable protection from deportation and work authorization. While the policy shielded approximately 580,000 people as of 2023, court challenges have left its long-term viability uncertain.
Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin recently reiterated that DACA recipients are not automatically exempt from enforcement actions, stating that the program “does not confer legal status in this country.” The message reflects a broader shift from earlier interpretations of prosecutorial discretion and comes as U.S. immigration authorities have increased detentions nationwide.
Advocacy organizations say the case underscores ongoing uncertainty for people who have lived most of their lives in the United States but lack a permanent pathway to residency. Reuters and other international outlets have reported that immigration detention levels have fluctuated over the past decade, affected by changing policy priorities and court rulings. Rights groups have also criticized long-distance transfers between facilities, saying they disrupt access to legal counsel and family contact.
Federal officials have not publicly detailed the specific reason for Ferreira’s arrest or why she was transferred among several states before being held in Louisiana. ICE did not respond to questions about her case, including whether she faces removal proceedings or has a scheduled hearing.
Pomerleau described the transfers as an unnecessary burden on a parent who has lived in the United States for three decades. “She has a business, pays taxes, and has shared custody of her son,” he said. “There was no reason for this level of detention.”
Family and Legal Proceedings Continue
Ferreira remains separated from her son in New Hampshire while her legal team seeks her release. Pomerleau said they are working to challenge her detention and obtain access to case documentation. No court date has been publicly confirmed.
Her family has not spoken publicly, and officials associated with the White House press secretary have distanced the administration from the matter. Karoline Leavitt has not commented on her former family connection and is not involved in the legal proceedings.
Immigration attorneys say similar cases often hinge on technical factors, including lapsed paperwork, prior visa terms, or unresolved administrative filings. Without permanent status, DACA recipients remain vulnerable to enforcement actions even if they have lived in the United States for decades, legal analysts note.
For now, Ferreira’s future remains unclear, as her case unfolds amid ongoing national debate over immigration enforcement and the long-term status of childhood arrivals.
Source: AP News – Immigrant with family ties to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is detained by ICE
