The Biden-era laxness on immigration appears to be over as the Trump administration steps up enforcement — and the sweep has unexpectedly caught Karoline Leavitt’s estranged relative in its path. Federal officials confirmed this week that Bruna Ferreira, the Brazilian mother of a boy whose aunt is White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, has been detained by immigration authorities.
Ferreira was arrested in Boston after irregularities reportedly surfaced in her immigration status. According to a source familiar with the case, she originally came to the United States on a visitor visa as a child in December 1998, then overstayed the permit after it expired in 1999. She now faces deportation proceedings at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center, where she remains in custody pending review.
A government spokesperson, citing directives from President Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, emphasized that any individual unlawfully present in the country remains subject to removal. The enforcement initiative has drawn additional scrutiny given Ferreira’s tenuous connection to a prominent White House official.
Sources involved in the case emphasized that Ferreira never lived with her son — Leavitt’s nephew — who has lived full time in New Hampshire with his father since birth. The pair have reportedly not had contact in several years.
Still, media outlets report that Ferreira’s sister launched a fundraising campaign claiming Ferreira maintained legal standing through the now‑defunct DACA program and “always strived to build a stable, honest life.” The campaign argues her detention is unjust. Meanwhile, Ferreira’s son, represented by his father, appears focused on privacy and well‑being: “My only concern has always been the safety, wellbeing, and privacy of my son,” the father told reporters.
The case has stirred debate among immigration policymakers and the public alike. Critics argue the government’s aggressive roundups are destabilizing families, while supporters maintain they are essential to uphold the rule of law. In any case, Ferreira’s arrest underscores how far‑reaching the current enforcement push has become — with even distant familial ties to high‑profile officials offering no shield.
