A family member of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was taken into federal custody by immigration authorities in Massachusetts, adding an unexpected twist to the national spotlight.
Bruna Caroline Ferreira — labeled by officials as a "criminal illegal alien from Brazil" — was arrested in Revere, Massachusetts, after allegedly overstaying a tourist visa that expired back in June 1999, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security told NBC News.
Ferreira has an 11-year-old son with Michael — the older brother of White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt — bringing the story even closer to the nation’s inner political circle.
Bruna Ferreira pictured with her son in a moment frozen in time — taken shortly before her arrest by U.S. ICE in November 2025. Bruna Ferreira / Facebook
"The only concern has always been the safety, well-being, and privacy of my son," Michael Leavitt told WMUR, underscoring the deeply personal stakes behind the headlines.
Leavitt, the nation’s youngest White House press secretary at just 28, declined to comment on Ferreira’s arrest, though a source revealed the two women haven’t spoken in years — adding another layer of intrigue to the story.
“The child has lived full-time in New Hampshire with his father since he was born. He has never resided with his mother,” the source claimed.
Ferreira, who immigrated to the U.S. with her family as a child, was previously arrested on suspicion of battery. While the outcome of that case remains unclear, a search of Massachusetts’ online court records turned up no charges against her.
She is currently being held at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center while awaiting removal proceedings, placing her at the center of a high-profile immigration case.
“She entered the US on a B2 tourist visa that required her to depart the US by June 6, 1999,” the Department of Homeland Security told NBC News. “She is currently at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center and is in removal proceedings. Under President Trump and [DHS] Secretary [Kristi] Noem, all individuals unlawfully present in the United States are subject to deportation.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addresses reporters during a briefing at the White House on November 20, 2025, her words unfolding amid growing national scrutiny. REUTERS
Michael Leavitt, alongside his wife and children, welcomes President Trump in the Oval Office during their visit to the White House, capturing a moment of personal connection at the nation’s center of power. Mike Leavitt/ Facebook
Ferreira is being held at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center as she awaits removal proceedings, placing her at the heart of a tense and closely watched immigration case. Bruna Ferreira / Facebook
Ferreira’s attorney, Todd Pomerleau, challenged her arrest, asserting that she had "maintained her legal status" through the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
“She’s in the process of actually getting her green card and she was abruptly arrested and taken from her young child right before Thanksgiving,” Pomerleau said, according to WCVB.
“Bruna has no criminal record whatsoever,” he said. “I don’t know where that is coming from. Show us the proof. There’s no charges out there. She’s not a criminal illegal alien.”
Pomerleau revealed that Ferreira’s son hasn’t spoken to his mother since her arrest, highlighting the personal toll behind the headlines.
“I’m just trying to fight to get her out of jail. She should not be sitting in a jail hours away from her family and from her child’s life. She’s a great mom, and from what I heard, I think he’s been a pretty good dad,” he said.
“His mother is locked up in Louisiana, where she should have never been in the first place,” Pomerleau said of Michael Leavitt and Ferreira’s son.
Ferreira’s attorney disputed her arrest, emphasizing that she came to the U.S. under the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and has been actively pursuing legal status. Bruna Ferreira / Facebook
Karoline Leavitt pictured with her brother Michael in 2016, long before current events thrust their family into the national spotlight. Mike Leavitt / Facebook
Karoline Leavitt with her son Niko in the White House press briefing room on November 25, 2025, a rare personal moment amid the intensity of her high-profile role. Getty Images
Since taking office, Trump and his administration have launched what critics call a "mass deportation campaign," pushing undocumented immigrants to "self-deport" while ramping up large-scale law enforcement operations with ICE, the Border Patrol, and the National Guard in cities and towns across the country.
“All individuals unlawfully present in the United States are subject to deportation,” the DHS said.
A relative of Ferreira started a GoFundMe on her behalf, highlighting that she was brought to the U.S. as a child in 1998 and had followed all legal protocols.
“Since then, she has done everything in her power to build a stable, honest life here. She has maintained her legal status through DACA, followed every requirement, and has always strived to do the right thing,” the fundraiser said.
In 2014, Michael Leavitt won $1 million in a DraftKings daily fantasy football contest. At the time, he was engaged to Ferreira, and their son was just eight months old. The young family celebrated the win with photos holding a giant novelty check from the gambling site, capturing a rare moment of joy before the spotlight of later events.
“I need the lights fixed on the back of my car,” Ferreira told the North Andover, Mass., Eagle-Tribune at the time. “And we need a lamp for my son’s room. Other than that we don’t really need much. We have our health. We have a nice condo. We really are blessed.”
