White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s brother spoke with reporters Tuesday night ahead of Thanksgiving about the mother of his son, who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody weeks ago.
According to WMUR in New Hampshire, Michael Leavitt said his son has lived with him in New Hampshire since he was born and said his biggest concern is for his son’s safety. The boy’s mother, identified as 33-year-old Bruna Caroline Ferreira of Brazil, reportedly entered the U.S. on a B2 tourist visa that required her to depart by June 6, 1999.
Leavitt lives with a different woman referred to as his son’s stepmother. He said that Ferreira has maintained a relationship with her son though he lives with the couple.
“His son has not spoken to his mother since she was detained in ICE custody a few weeks ago, he confirmed,” said WMUR. The New York Times reported that the boy is 11 years old.
A source familiar with the matter told WMUR that Ferreira was arrested in Revere, Mass., for overstaying her visa by 26 years. WMUR also said she is being held at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center, citing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Additionally, DHS said Ferreira had a previous arrest for battery and that she is going through removal proceedings.
While DHS has reportedly claimed that Ferreira overstayed her visa her attorney, Todd Pomerleau, insists that she came to the U.S. legally under DACA and is in the process of getting her green card. He said “Bruna has no criminal record whatsoever. I don't know where that is coming from. Show us the proof. There’s no charges out there. She’s not a criminal, illegal alien.”
Pomerleau also said Ferreira is a good mom, and he’s fighting to get her out of custody. Per the Times, she was arrested on the way to pick up her son.
“I’m just trying to fight to get her out of jail,” he said. “She should not be sitting in a jail hours away from her family and from her child’s life. She’s a great mom, and from what I heard, I think he’s been a pretty good dad.”
President Donald Trump has made cracking down on illegal immigration one of the major goals of his administration. As press secretary, Leavitt often explains those plans to the public and positions immigration detentions as successes.
Speaking on the administration’s illegal immigration crackdown earlier this year, Leavitt said that all ICE detainees are criminals.
“All of them, because they illegally broke our nation’s laws, and, therefore, they are criminals, as far as this administration goes. I know the last administration didn’t see it that way, so it’s a big culture shift in our nation to view someone who breaks our immigration laws as a criminal,” she told the press. “But that’s exactly what they are.”
Leavitt told WMUR that she had no comment on Ferreira’s arrest. Per the outlet, a source said that the press secretary has not spoken to Ferreira in years.
Newsweek reported that a GoFundMe for Ferreira has raised nearly $30,000 as of Wednesday afternoon. The outlet said it had reached out to organizers of the fundraiser for comment.
“Under President Trump and Secretary [Kristi] Noem, all individuals unlawfully present in the United States are subject to deportation,” the spokesperson said, according to the report.