WASHINGTON, Nov. 26, 2025 – U.S. immigration authorities have detained Bruna Caroline Ferreira, the mother of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s nephew, highlighting the ongoing reach of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed Ferreira’s arrest but did not specify the exact circumstances. Local reports indicate she was taken into custody in Revere, Massachusetts, near Boston.

Visa Status and Legal Background

Ferreira, a Brazilian national, entered the U.S. on a tourist visa but overstayed, according to DHS. Her attorney, Jeffrey Rubin, said she is actively seeking permanent residence and previously received protection under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which allows work permits and temporary deportation relief for immigrants brought to the U.S. as children.

DHS noted Ferreira had a prior arrest for battery, though Reuters could not independently verify the charge. She is currently being held at an ICE detention center in Louisiana.

Impact and Family Concerns

Ferreira’s detention has been particularly difficult for her 11-year-old son, who lives full-time with her nephew’s father, Michael Leavitt, Karoline Leavitt’s brother, in New Hampshire. According to a GoFundMe page organized by Ferreira’s sister, the boy “needs his mother and hopes every single day that she’ll be home in time for the holidays.”

Rubin criticized the government’s action, saying it represents an “abuse of entrusted powers” after previously offering Ferreira a pathway to legal status.

Broader Context

The case reflects the broader scope of Trump’s immigration enforcement, which has surged in major U.S. cities, targeting many long-term residents, including non-criminals. As of mid-November, more than two-thirds of the roughly 53,000 individuals arrested by ICE in 2025 had no criminal convictions, according to agency statistics.

“Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, all individuals unlawfully present in the United States are subject to deportation,” a DHS spokesperson said.

Ferreira’s family and legal team are seeking her prompt release while pursuing avenues for permanent residency.