Karoline Leavitt’s family situation has become a public controversy after her relative was detained by ICE for nearly a month.
On November 12, Bruna Ferreira, originally from Brazil but residing in Massachusetts, was taken into custody by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. During her detention, she faced the fear of being deported to a country she had left decades prior.
Ferreira was on her way to pick up her 11-year-old son, who is both Leavitt’s nephew and godson, when she was detained and transported to the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center, located over 1,500 miles from the arrest location.
After 26 days, an immigration judge allowed her release on a $1,500 bond.
Ferreira has a son with Michael Leavitt, Karoline’s brother, though their relationship ended before they could marry about ten years ago.
Now, at 33, Ferreira has openly criticized her would-be sister-in-law in a CNN’s OutFront interview.
In a pointed message to Leavitt, she remarked, “I think what I would have to say to Karoline is, just because you went to Catholic school, doesn’t make you a good Catholic.
“You’re a mother, and you should know. How would you feel if you were in my shoes? How would you feel if somebody did this to you? Because at the end of the day, nobody is above the law, and this could happen to you.”
Ferreira stated that she hasn’t communicated with Leavitt since her detention and has yet to see her son post-release. She also mentioned attempts to reach out, but due to a GPS ankle monitor, her mobility is restricted.
The White House communicated to The Mirror US that the child has resided with Michael in New Hampshire since birth and has no history of living with 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,” the spokesperson clarified.
Ferreira and her attorneys, however, have challenged the statement as completely ‘false’.
A representative from the Department of Homeland Security labeled Ferreira a ‘criminal illegal alien,’ citing an alleged arrest for battery, which her lawyer refutes.
“ICE arrested Bruna Caroline Ferreria, a criminal illegal alien from Brazil,” they stated. “She has a previous arrest for battery. She entered the U.S. on a B2 tourist visa that required her to depart the U.S. by June 6, 1999.”
Ferreira informed CNN that she has been living in the US since she was six and denied any criminal record, saying, “I don’t even have a parking ticket, and I’m so proud of it.”
Her attorney, Todd Pomerleau, noted she had been allowed entry and protection in the US under DACA as a child but was unable to renew her status recently.
He described his client as a victim of ‘false character assassination’.
Currently, DHS has stipulated that she must ‘have periodic mandatory check-ins with ICE law enforcement to ensure she is abiding by the terms of her release,’ pending her court case in Boston.
Ferreira expressed her disbelief, stating, “I’m trying to understand and have faith that there’s some logical explanation behind any of this, but there isn’t.
“I’m not the first. I’m surely not going to be the last. There’s thousands of women and families and children being separated daily. Where does it end? When does it stop?”
The White House and DHS have been approached for further comment.