ICE releases Brazilian woman Bruna Ferreira on bond amid family ties to White House press secretary

ICE released Bruna Ferreira, a 33‑year‑old Brazilian woman, from detention on a $1,500 bond after a judge ruled she was neither a danger nor a flight risk.

Arrest and Initial Detention

On Nov. 12, 2023, ICE agents in Revere, Massachusetts, stopped Ferreira while she was driving to New Hampshire to pick up the 11‑year‑old son she shares with Michael Leavitt, the brother of White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. She was first taken to a facility in Vermont and later moved to a detention center in Louisiana.

Judge’s Decision and Bond

An immigration judge, appointed by President Biden, ordered that Ferreira be released on a $1,500 bond. Her attorney, Todd Pomerleau, told a court that \”We argued that she wasn’t a danger or a flight risk.\” Pomerleau added that the government had \”stipulated to our argument and never once argued that she was a criminal illegal alien and waived appeal.\”

Department of Homeland Security Statement

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security issued a statement Monday saying: \”ICE arrested Bruna Caroline Ferreira, a criminal illegal alien from Brazil. 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. A Biden‑appointed judge allowed her to be eligible for bond. If she pays the bond, she will be released while she continues in removal proceedings. She will have periodic mandatory check‑ins with ICE law enforcement to ensure she is abiding by the terms of her release. The Department of Homeland Security will continue to work to remove all aliens illegally present in the country as quickly as possible. As the Department has always maintained, all illegal aliens can avoid legal troubles by choosing to self‑deport in a dignified way with a $1,000 stipend, a free flight home, and the chance to re‑enter the United States legally in the future.\” The White House press secretary did not respond to a request for comment.

Attorney’s Counter‑Arguments

Pomerleau disputes the agency’s claims, saying he has seen no evidence that Ferreira ever committed a crime. He explained that Ferreira came to the United States as a toddler and later enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which shields immigrants who arrived as children. He also noted that she was in the process of applying for a green card.

In an interview last month, Pomerleau said: \”She came here at 6 years old,\” he said. \”Age of 6, and they’re calling her a criminal illegal alien.\” He continued: \”They’re saying she violated a visa. You can’t violate a visa under the immigration laws until six months after your 18th birthday. By then, she already had DACA, which you can’t get if you’re a criminal illegal alien, cause [of] its disqualifying factors for people who have crimes.\”

Family Connections and Public Silence

Ferreira shares custody of her son with Michael Leavitt, the brother of Karoline Leavitt, who grew up in New Hampshire, ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2022, served as Donald Trump’s spokesperson for the 2024 campaign, and later joined him at the White House. A source confirmed the family connection but noted that Ferreira and Leavitt have not spoken in years. The White House press secretary has not publicly commented on the case.

Pomerleau described the past relationship between Ferreira and Michael Leavitt as typical of many young couples: \”Like a modern family,\” he said. \”They’re two people that were young and in love at one point. They were engaged to be married, and it didn’t work out, like countless others.\”

Key Takeaways

• Bruna Ferreira, 33, was released on a $1,500 bond after an immigration judge found she was not a danger or flight risk.
• The Department of Homeland Security labeled her a criminal illegal alien, citing a B2 visa violation and a prior battery arrest.
• Ferreira’s attorney argues she entered the U.S. as a child, was granted DACA, and is applying for a green card.

The case highlights the complex interplay between immigration law, family ties, and the political spotlight surrounding the White House press secretary’s family.