Topline
In a recent development drawing attention to the Trump administration’s stringent immigration policies, the mother of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s nephew has been detained by immigration authorities. This incident was reported by multiple news outlets on Tuesday evening.
The woman, identified as Bruna Caroline Ferreira, was apprehended earlier this month near Boston by agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to WBUR. Her detention has put a personal face on the broader immigration debate, highlighting the complexities faced by many families.
Ferreira’s lawyer revealed to CNN that she is indeed the mother of Leavitt’s nephew. However, it seems that she and Leavitt have not had any contact for several years. Her son has been residing with his father, Michael Leavitt, who is the press secretary’s brother, in New Hampshire since he was born.
Originally from Brazil, Ferreira came to the U.S. as a child with her family. She benefited from the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program instituted during the Obama administration. This program provided temporary protection from deportation for undocumented immigrants who were brought into the country as children.
Despite her DACA protection, a spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security stated that Ferreira is currently living in the U.S. illegally. The spokesperson noted that she had overstayed her tourist visa, which expired in 1999. Furthermore, they mentioned a prior arrest for battery, though details about any conviction remain unspecified.
Ferreira migrated with her family to the U.S. from Brazil as a child and was a beneficiary of the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which granted temporary protection to undocumented individuals brought to the U.S. as children, the reports said.
But a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson claimed Ferreira was in the U.S. illegally, as she had overstayed her tourist visa, which expired in 1999, and said she has a “previous arrest for battery,” although it’s unclear if she was convicted.
What Have Leavitt And Her Brother Said?
The press secretary has not publicly commented on Ferreira’s arrest. Her brother told WBUR, “My only concern has always been the safety, well-being, and privacy of my son.”
