Bruna Ferreira, mother of the nephew of White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, says she was detained by ICE despite living under DACA and pursuing a green card. An immigration judge ordered her release earlier this week, though the Department of Homeland Security has alleged prior criminal conduct. Ferreira says she believes she was targeted and described the emotional toll on her young son and family. Her attorney argues she was in a lawful process and stressed the importance of due process.
DACA Recipient Detained by ICE; Mother of White House Press Secretary’s Nephew Says She Was “Heartbroken”
Bruna Ferreira, the mother of the nephew of White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, says she was “heartbroken” after being detained earlier this month by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) despite qualifying under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
What Happened
Ferreira, who was brought to the United States at age six by her parents, told CNN’s Erin Burnett she has been pursuing a lawful path to permanent residency and was surprised by her arrest. She said officers appeared to know her movements and that she feels she was singled out.
“It doesn’t make sense. I’m trying to understand and have faith that there’s some logical explanation behind any of this, but there isn’t. I’m not the first… I’m surely not going to be the last,” Ferreira said. “There’s thousands of women and families and children being separated daily. Where does it end? When does it stop?”
Legal Status And Response
Ferreira’s attorney, Todd Pomerleau, told Burnett that she is in line for a green card and has been working through the legal process to adjust her status. He argued that people are entitled to due process and that arrests are occurring at various stages of lawful immigration procedures.
“The reality is here that she’s in line for her green card, like tens of thousands of other people. And throughout the country, people are just being illegally arrested when they’re in the middle or the beginning or the end of a lawful process that Congress created roughly in the mid ’90s,” Pomerleau said. “The laws aren’t perfect, but they’re there for a reason. People are entitled to due process of law.”
An immigration judge ordered Ferreira’s release earlier this week, but the Department of Homeland Security has previously alleged she has a criminal record, and the matter remains under scrutiny.
Family Impact
Ferreira described the emotional toll on her family, especially her young son, Michael, whom she shares with Leavitt’s brother. She said her mother has worked for decades cleaning houses and that Ferreira herself has been a law-abiding resident. Ferreira was reportedly arrested while attempting to pick up Michael in a Boston suburb, and she told Burnett she wants her son to know the allegations against her are untrue and that they will resolve the situation.
“I’m heartbroken. I’m heartbroken for my son… I’ve been a law-abiding citizen. I don’t even have a parking ticket,” she said.
The case highlights tensions over immigration enforcement and due process for noncitizen residents who are pursuing legal status. The story remains developing as legal steps continue and authorities review the DHS allegations.
