Karoline Leavitt’s Nephew’s Mom Speaks Out After ICE Arrest
A woman connected to the family of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is speaking publicly after being detained earlier this month by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), raising renewed questions about how federal immigration laws are being applied.
Bruna Ferreira, the mother of Leavitt’s nephew, was briefly taken into custody by immigration officials despite holding legal protections under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which was established during the Obama administration.
Ferreira, who has lived in the United States since early childhood, said the incident left her shaken and confused, particularly given her long-standing compliance with immigration requirements.
“I’m trying to understand why this happened,” she said during a televised interview. “I’ve followed the rules and done everything I was told to do.”
According to her attorney, Ferreira was brought to the U.S. by her parents at the age of six and has since been working through the legal process to obtain permanent residency. He emphasized that her case is part of a lawful system created by Congress and that individuals navigating that system are entitled to due process.
“The laws may not be perfect, but they exist to provide structure and fairness,” her attorney said. “People who are actively complying with the law deserve to be treated accordingly.”
An immigration judge later ordered Ferreira’s release, though the Department of Homeland Security has previously stated that her case required further review. No criminal convictions were cited in court filings, and Ferreira strongly denied any wrongdoing.
She pointed to her clean record, steady work history, and years of paying taxes as evidence that she has lived responsibly while raising her son.
“I’ve never even had a parking ticket,” Ferreira said. “I’ve worked, paid taxes, and raised my child the right way. That’s why this situation has been so painful.”
Ferreira also expressed concern about the emotional toll the incident has taken on her young son, particularly as media coverage and public discussion spread.
“As a parent, it’s heartbreaking to know your child is scared and confused,” she said. “I just want him to understand that none of this means his mother did something wrong.”
She was taken into custody while attempting to pick up her son from school in a Boston-area suburb. Ferreira shares custody of the child with Karoline Leavitt’s brother.
While Ferreira has since been released, her case has drawn attention amid ongoing national debates over immigration enforcement, due process, and how legacy policies are being handled under current federal leadership.
