White House Press Secretary's Nephew's Mother Released from Immigration Detention

The mother of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s nephew has been released from immigration detention following weeks of custody that drew national attention to the intersection of immigration enforcement and political connections.

Bruna Caroline Ferreira was released Tuesday on a $1,500 bond, the minimum amount permitted under immigration law. Ferreira shares a child with Leavitt’s brother and was taken into custody on November 12 by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Revere, Massachusetts, as she drove to her son’s school.

Her attorney, Todd Pomerleau, argued that his client posed neither a danger nor a flight risk. In a statement, Pomerleau challenged the Department of Homeland Security’s characterization of Ferreira as a “criminal illegal alien,” noting that she has never been arrested for any crime. The attorney described the November 12 arrest as an “unconstitutional ICE charade” and emphasized that numerous forms of relief exist for Ferreira to obtain lawful permanent residency.

The Department of Homeland Security issued a statement Monday evening presenting a different account. The agency identified Ferreira as a criminal illegal alien from Brazil who had been arrested for battery. According to DHS, Ferreira entered the United States on a B2 tourist visa that required her departure by June 6, 1999. The statement confirmed that a judge authorized her release and bond payment upon her entry into removal proceedings.

Ferreira disputed the government’s characterization in a recent interview. She acknowledged overstaying her visa as a child, which constitutes a civil violation rather than a criminal offense, and stated she was raised in the United States. According to her account, she met Leavitt’s brother, Michael, at a nightclub and the couple fell in love. The pair became engaged but ended their relationship in 2015. They have shared parenting responsibilities for their 11-year-old son, though current details of their co-parenting arrangement remain unclear.

Ferreira expressed bewilderment at the narrative surrounding her case, noting that she had asked Karoline Leavitt to serve as godmother to her sister.

Pomerleau confirmed that Ferreira has no criminal record but acknowledged a 2008 incident when Ferreira, then 16 years old, was summoned to juvenile court following a fight. The attorney emphasized that Ferreira was not arrested in that incident and that the case was dismissed. Juvenile court records remain sealed, as Ferreira was a minor at the time.

The case highlights ongoing tensions in immigration enforcement policy and raises questions about the application of immigration law to individuals who entered the country as children and have established deep roots in American communities. As removal proceedings continue, the matter will test the boundaries of prosecutorial discretion in immigration cases involving long-term residents with family ties to American citizens.

The White House and Department of Homeland Security have not provided additional comment on the matter.