A woman arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in a raid has been linked to none other than United States President Donald Trump’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt.
Trump and his administration have not been shy in promoting their strong anti-immigration policies. The POTUS even set up a goal earlier this year for ICE to make at least 3,000 arrests per day as part of his vow to launch the 'biggest deportation operation' in US history, which ultimately led to protests.
But in an ironic twist, a woman directly linked to someone in Trump's administration has now been arrested by the department.
Bruna Ferreira, who has a child with Leavitt's brother, Michael, is now in custody at an ICE facility in Louisiana, according to the Boston radio station WBUR, which first reported the arrest.
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Michael, 35, had a relationship with Bruna, 33, and they had a son, Michael Leavitt Jr, aged 11.
Bruna was reportedly arrested earlier this month (12 November) in Revere, Massachusetts, a city roughly seven miles north of Boston, per CNN.
According to reporting by CNN, she was driving to pick up her son from Michael's house in New Hampshire when she was detained.
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Her car was then 'suddenly swarmed' by ICE agents, reports the Boston Globe.
In a statement to WBUR, Michael said: "My only concern has always been the safety, well-being, and privacy of my son."
Bruna's sister, Graziela Dos Santos Rodrigues, told the outlet that the ICE agents demanded her name and driver’s license, but she did not have an ID card.
"They were not the most gentle with her," she told the Globe.
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"I’m sure my sister was terrified, frantic. She’s been here since she was six years old. She’s more American than she is anything else. I’m sure she tried to just use whatever she could come up with in the moment. However, it didn’t really help very much."
A White House source familiar with the situation said: "This individual is the mother of Karoline’s nephew, and they have not spoken in many years. The child has lived full-time in New Hampshire with his father since he was born. He has never resided with his mother."
In a statement shared with PEOPLE, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson confirmed that Bruna, who was born in Brazil, had been arrested.
They reported that her tourist visa expired in 1999.
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"ICE arrested Bruna Caroline Ferreria [sic], a criminal illegal alien from Brazil. She has a previous arrest for battery. She entered the US on a B2 tourist visa that required her to depart the US by 6 June 1999. She is currently at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center and is in removal proceedings," the spokesperson wrote.
They added: "Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, all individuals unlawfully present in the United States are subject to deportation."
Details of the alleged arrest are unclear; WBUR noted that they were unable to find any criminal charges filed against her in Massachusetts' online database.
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Todd Pomerleau, who is representing Ferreira, disputed the claim, telling another outlet, WMUR: "Bruna has no criminal record whatsoever."
"Show us the proof. There's no charges out there. She's not a criminal, illegal alien, we're hearing that said about anyone who's not a US citizen," he continued.
Ferreira's sister, Graziela Dos Santos Rodrigues, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover legal expenses as the family contests the immigration charges and seeks to prevent deportation.
According to the fundraising page, Ferreira has maintained her legal standing in the US under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programme, which provides temporary deportation relief for individuals brought to the country as minors.
Graziela emphasised that her sister has consistently met all programme obligations and worked to comply with legal requirements. In her appeal, she described Ferreira as a dedicated worker with a generous spirit who readily assists others in need.
"Whether it's supporting family, friends, or even strangers, Bruna has a heart that puts others before herself," she wrote.
Topics: Donald Trump, News, Politics, US News
Rhiannon Ingle