Attorneys representing the mother of Karoline Leavitt’s nephew have accused the White House Press Secretary of spreading falsehoods about their family ties, as the Brazilian national faces a challenging immigration situation.
Bruna Ferreira, the mother in question, was apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and has been held in a detention center in southern Louisiana for most of November.
Although a source close to the family told the Daily Mail that Leavitt and Ferreira had not communicated in years, attorney Todd Pomerleau refutes this claim, calling it untrue.
“She has definitely seen and spoken with Karoline Leavitt within the past year, possibly even in recent months,” Pomerleau stated in an interview with The Daily Beast.
Pomerleau further asserts that Ferreira had recently been in the company of the Leavitt family, including her former partner Michael Leavitt Sr, at a soccer match for their 11-year-old son, Michael Jr.
“Just weeks before her detention, she, labeled as a ‘criminal illegal alien,’ was spending time with the Leavitt family, who publicly oppose criminal illegal aliens,” Pomerleau remarked.
‘She was a ‘criminal legal alien’ back when she was dating Michael Leavitt, and he had no issue with it.’
Pomerleau added that his client ‘literally picked Karoline to be the godmother of Michael Jr over her own sister’ and is ‘quite proud of her for achieving her dreams’ working in the Trump administration.
Lawyers for the detained mother of Karoline Leavitt ‘s nephew accused the White House Press Secretary of lying about their estrangement amid the Brazilian national’s immigration battle
‘She’s seen and talked to Karoline Leavitt definitely within the past year, if not the past months,’ her lawyer claimed
‘She’s just sitting there baffled, wondering what’s going on,’ Pomerleau said of Ferreira’s current state.
The Daily Mail has reached out to the White House for comment.
A White House insider previously told The Daily Mail of Ferreira: ‘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.’
Pomerleau said that Ferreira refutes claims that she never lived with her son but did not give specifics.
Ferreira, her attorney claimed, arrived in the US in 1998 and remained in the country under the federally protected Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. She was in the process of getting her residency when she was detained.
Ferreira was taken by authorities in Revere, Massachusetts, earlier this month while trying to collect her 11-year-old son, Michael Leavitt Jr, whose father is Leavitt’s brother, Michael Sr.
Ferreira’s sister, Graziela Dos Santos Rodrigues, launched a GoFundMe to support her legal battle to stay in the United States.
Ferreira was taken by authorities in Revere, Massachusetts, while trying to collect her 11-year-old son, Michael Leavitt Jr, whose father is Leavitt’s brother, Michael Sr (left)
Michael Sr said the 11-year-old boy lives with him and his wife full-time (pictured with Trump), but has always maintained a relationship with his biological mother
The fundraiser smashed its $30,000 goal thanks to an unnamed donor who sent her $5,000.
‘This Thanksgiving looks very different for our family, but even in the hardest of times, we are overwhelmed with gratitude for the love and support we have received,’ Rodrigues wrote in a Thursday update.
‘Because of your generosity, we reached – and quickly surpassed – our fundraising goal. We are truly in awe of this community.’
Rodrigues also thanked her sister’s ‘rockstar attorney,’ Pomerleau, saying that his efforts have given her family hope.
Michael Sr said in a statement that their 11-year-old son lives with him and his wife full-time, but has always maintained a relationship with his biological mother.
He told WBUR his ‘only concern has always been the safety, well-being, and privacy of [his] son.’
Michael Sr said the little boy has not had an opportunity to speak with his mom since she was first detained by ICE ‘several weeks ago.’
Rodrigues told The Boston Globe that Ferreira had desperately tried to tell ICE agents of her relationship to Leavitt at the time of her arrest.
Ferreira, her attorney claimed, arrived in the US in 1998 and remained in the country under the federally protected Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. She was in the process of getting her residency when she was detained
Ferreira’s sister has claimed that both Michael Sr (pictured left with his wife, Kara) and his father, Bob Leavitt, have advised Ferreira to self-deport
‘They were not the most gentle with her,’ she said of the agents, who swarmed her car after Ferreira drove from Massachusetts to New Hampshire to pick up Michael.
‘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,’ Rodrigues added.
‘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.’
Rodrigues claims that both Michael Sr and his father, Bob Leavitt, had little advice for Ferreira after her arrest.
‘They just kept saying, “Tell her to self-deport.” Self-deport to where? Brazil is not her home.’
Rodrigues also said Wednesday that Leavitt has not reached out to help.
‘If she were to help in any way, if she were willing to do anything to help us, she would have reached out by now. She has my phone number,’ Rodrigues said.
The Department of Homeland Security told the Daily Mail that Ferreira is a ‘criminal illegal alien’ who ‘has a previous arrest for battery.’
The spokesman added: ‘She entered the US on a B2 tourist visa that required her to depart the US by June 6, 1999.
‘Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, all individuals unlawfully present in the United States are subject to deportation.’
