Leavitt faces scrutiny over ties to ICE-detained nephew’s mother Bruna Ferreira

WASHINGTON, DC: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is under scrutiny after Bruna Ferreira, mother of her 11-year-old nephew, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in early November. Ferreira accused Leavitt of downplaying their family ties despite recent involvement with the family.

Karoline Leavitt’s involvement with Bruna Ferreira questioned

Ferreira’s attorney, Todd Pomerleau, said she maintained regular communication with Leavitt and her relatives, attended her son’s sporting events, and even chose Leavitt as the child’s godmother “over her own sister.”

The situation has drawn Leavitt’s New Hampshire family into the national spotlight and put the administration on the defensive, as conflicting accounts emerge about how recently the press secretary interacted with Ferreira. 

Bruna Ferreira’s ICE detention sparks tension in Leavitt family 

Pomerleau told the Daily Beast that Leavitt and her family remained in contact with Ferreira long after the White House claimed they had not spoken in “years.” He said Ferreira, who co-parents her son with Leavitt’s brother Michael, had been actively involved in the child’s life and was frequently seen with the Leavitt family.

“She’s seen and talked to Karoline Leavitt definitely within the past year, if not past months,” Pomerleau said, challenging the White House timeline. He added that only weeks before being taken into ICE custody, Ferreira stood beside the Leavitts at a recreational football game, cheering for her son. 

According to the Department of Homeland Security, Ferreira overstayed a tourist visa. Her attorney, however, noted that she had been in the U.S. since age six and was granted DACA protections in 2012. Pomerleau also disputed DHS claims regarding a past battery charge, saying individuals with “serious” criminal records are not eligible for DACA.

“She was stunned by assertions that she was not part of her son’s life,” Pomerleau said. “She is actually proud of Karoline for achieving her dreams and is just sitting there wondering what’s going on.” 

Karoline Leavitt distances herself as scrutiny over Bruna Ferreira grows

A White House source insisted that Leavitt had minimal involvement with Ferreira and had not spoken to her nephew’s mother in “many years.” The source added that the child has lived “full time in New Hampshire with his father since birth” and “has never resided with his mother.” Ferreira disputes this through her attorney, saying she has consistently been present in her son’s life. 

Michael Leavitt told WMUR he was primarily “concerned with the well-being and safety of his son,” acknowledging that Ferreira maintained a close relationship with the boy. Meanwhile, Ferreira’s relatives criticized Karoline Leavitt for remaining silent after the detention.