White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has suddenly found herself connected to one of the many aggressive ICE raids happening across the United States. The situation has drawn major attention because the woman arrested—Bruna Ferreira—is the mother of Leavitt’s 11-year-old nephew. Her detention has created confusion, emotional reactions, and questions about what really happened inside the family years ago.
Ferreira is now held at an ICE facility in Louisiana and faces possible deportation to Brazil, the country she left as a child.
A Family Shocked as Bruna Ferreira Lands in ICE Custody
Officials confirmed that ICE agents detained Bruna Ferreira, former fiancée of Michael Leavitt, brother of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Bruna and Michael share an 11-year-old son.
Bruna’s sister launched a GoFundMe to fight possible deportation, raising more than $14,000. Conflicting accounts have emerged about the family’s past, including whether Bruna and Michael once lived together and how long their son has lived with his father.
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DHS said Bruna overstayed a B2 visa from 1999 and referred to a past battery arrest, though WBUR found no such record and sought clarification. Under Trump-era policies, DHS says anyone without legal status is subject to deportation.
Bruna remains held at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center. WBUR could not verify claims about the child’s long-term living arrangements, though a family member said the couple separated about 10 years ago.
Conflicting Records, Emotional Appeals, and a Growing Public Spotlight
While Bruna remains in detention, her family is trying to show that she has lived a stable and peaceful life in the U.S. Her sister wrote on GoFundMe that Bruna arrived as a child in December 1998 and kept legal status for years through DACA, a program for people brought to the country as minors.
Graziela said Bruna has always tried to follow the rules and build an honest life. She also described how hard the detention has been on Bruna’s 11-year-old son, who “hopes every single day that she’ll be home in time for the holidays.”
Michael Leavitt, Bruna’s former partner and father of her son, told WBUR that his only concern is the “safety, wellbeing, and privacy” of his child.
Karoline Leavitt has not commented on the case, but renewed attention has fallen on her family. Earlier this year, Michael posted a photo of himself with Donald Trump in the Oval Office, writing “Go America.” Many commenters praised the Leavitt family. Michael has since remarried, and his wife Kara shared a photo captioned “Forever wedding date.”
Old photos of Bruna and Karoline have also resurfaced, adding more public interest to a story filled with emotional appeals, legal questions, and growing debate.
GoFundMe, Childhood Memories, and Search for Legal Hope
The GoFundMe campaign organized by Graziela paints Bruna as a mother who has lived in the U.S. for nearly her entire life and is now fighting to avoid being sent back to a place she barely remembers. The family insists that Bruna followed every requirement placed on her and tried hard to live a good life for her son.
In an older interview with the North Andover Eagle-Tribune, Bruna spoke about simple family needs—fixing car lights, getting a lamp for her child’s room, and being grateful for her home and health. She described her life as “blessed,” offering a softer glimpse into the life of a woman now at the center of a very public immigration fight.
Her sister says donations will pay for legal support to “give Bruna the best possible chance to return home to her family.” She thanked supporters for their kindness, prayers, and compassion during such a difficult moment.
As ICE enforcement continues to draw national criticism and debate, this case has become one of the most talked-about stories—partly because of its tie to a top White House official, but also because it shows how deeply immigration actions can affect the families involved.