A relative of Presidential Press Secretary Caroline Levitt has reportedly been taken into custody by federal immigration authorities in Massachusetts.
Bruna Caroline Ferreira, identified as a “criminal illegal alien from Brazil,” was arrested in Revere, Massachusetts, due to allegations of overstaying her tourist visa, which lapsed in June 1999, as stated by a spokeswoman from the Department of Homeland Security.
Ferreira has an 11-year-old son with Leavitt’s younger brother, Michael, who has been living in New Hampshire with his father and has never resided with his mother, according to reports.
Michael expressed concern for his son’s well-being, stating, “My only concern was always my son’s safety, health and privacy.”
Interestingly, Levitt, at just 28, is the youngest White House press secretary and hasn’t had contact with Ferreira for several years.
Sources noted that although Ferreira is the mother of Caroline’s nephew, they’ve been out of touch, and the child has always lived full-time with his father since birth.
Having entered the U.S. as a child, Ferreira was previously arrested on an assault charge, but details regarding that case remain unclear.
Currently, she is being held at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center as deportation proceedings commence.
According to DHS, Ferreira originally entered the U.S. on a B2 tourist visa, which required her to depart by June 6, 1999. They emphasized that under the current administration, all individuals residing illegally in the U.S. are subject to deportation.
Ferreira’s lawyer argues against the detention, claiming she came to the U.S. as part of the DACA program and is in the process of obtaining legal status.
Her attorney, Todd Pomarleau, mentioned that Ferreira was detained just before Thanksgiving, separating her from her child. He stressed that she has no criminal history and questioned the claims against her.
He also noted that Ferreira’s son has not been able to communicate with her since the arrest, adding that he’s making efforts to secure her release. “She shouldn’t be sitting in jail hours away from her family and her child’s life. She’s a great mother,” he stated.
Furthermore, legal representatives have aligned with Michael Leavitt, advocating that the child should be shielded from his mother’s legal troubles.
Since Trump assumed office, there has been a notable increase in deportation efforts, targeting individuals residing in the U.S. without proper authorization, as reiterated by DHS.
In light of these developments, the situation remains complex, touching on familial ties, legal challenges, and broader immigration policies.
