The family of Karoline Leavitt’s nephew’s mother has voiced their concerns following the detention of Bruna Ferreira by ICE.
It was recently disclosed that Bruna Ferreira is facing the possibility of being deported to Brazil after her detention by ICE.
Ferreira shares a son with Karoline Leavitt’s brother, Michael. Their son, Michael Jr., is 11 years old. Ferreira and Michael were previously engaged but ended their relationship over ten years ago.
Ferreira has been labeled as a “criminal illegal alien from Brazil” and, as of November 25, is being held at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center.
A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson informed the Daily Beast: “She has a previous arrest for battery. She entered the U.S. on a B2 tourist visa that required her to depart the U.S. by June 6, 1999.
“Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, all individuals unlawfully present in the United States are subject to deportation.”
Now Ferreira’s family members have spoken up, asserting that she has lived in the US since she was a young child.
Her sister, Graziela Dos Santos Rodrigues, told The Boston Globe: “She’s been here since she was six years old. She’s more American than she is anything else.”
It seems that Bob Leavitt, Karoline and Michael’s father, has contacted Ferreira. Her sister claims she was advised to “self deport.”
“They just kept saying, ‘tell her to self-deport,'” she explained. “Self-deport to where? Brazil is not her home.”
Although Bob has reportedly reached out, White House Press Secretary Karoline has not.
Dos Santos Rodrigues commented: “If she were to help in any way, if she were willing to do anything to help us, she would have reached out by now.
“She has my phone number. We’ve been family for the last 13 years.
“I understand the policies and how it looks. But I also think when it comes to family, you put certain things aside. I don’t care who you work for.”
John J. Loscocco, the attorney representing Ferreira, challenges the DHS’s claim about a previous battery arrest, asserting that Ferreira has “no conviction of any kind.”
He is puzzled as to why Ferreira has been detained, arguing that she does not pose a flight risk or a threat to the community.
“This is unusual,” Loscocco remarked.
UNILAD has reached out to the White House’s press office for a comment on the situation.