DACA Mother Arrested in Trump Immigration Crackdown
United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has detained a woman connected to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt's family, highlighting the reach of the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies.
Bruna Ferreira, the former partner of Leavitt's brother Michael and mother to their 11-year-old son, was taken into custody and is currently held at an ICE facility in southern Louisiana. The arrest occurred just before the Thanksgiving holiday, separating Ferreira from her child.
Contested Claims and Legal Status
The Department of Homeland Security described Ferreira as a 'criminal illegal alien' in an official statement, referencing a previous arrest for battery. However, her attorney, Todd Pomerleau, vehemently denies these allegations.
'Bruna has no criminal record whatsoever,' Pomerleau stated. 'I don't know where that is coming from. Show us the proof. There are no charges out there. She's not a criminal illegal alien.'
According to immigration records, Ferreira originally entered the United States from Brazil with her family in December 1998 as a child on a B2 tourist visa. The visa required her to depart by June 6, 1999, but she remained and eventually received protection under the DACA programme.
DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), established by former President Barack Obama, protects approximately 800,000 young immigrants brought to the US illegally as children. The programme provides:
- Two-year renewable work permits
- Protection from deportation
- Ability to obtain driving licenses
- Opportunity to enrol in college
Family Impact and Legal Battle
The 11-year-old boy at the centre of this case lives full-time with his father and stepmother but maintained regular contact with his mother. A source close to the family told the Daily Mail: 'This individual is the mother of Karoline's nephew and they have not spoken in many years.'
Michael Leavitt addressed the situation briefly, stating: 'My only concern has always been the safety, well-being, and privacy of my son.'
Ferreira was reportedly in the process of securing permanent residency when ICE agents arrested her. Her family has established a GoFundMe campaign to support her legal fight to remain in the United States.
In their fundraising appeal, Ferreira's family wrote: 'Bruna was brought to the United States by our parents in December of 1998, when she was just a child. Since then, she has done everything in her power to build a stable, honest life here.'
The case emerges amid the Trump administration's strengthened immigration enforcement stance. A DHS statement clarified: 'Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, all individuals unlawfully present in the United States are subject to deportation.'
Ferreira's attorney emphasised the timing of the arrest, noting she was 'abruptly arrested and taken from her young child right before Thanksgiving' while actively pursuing legal residency status.
