Massachusetts Woman in ICE Custody After Attempting to Pick Up Son

Thu Nov 27 2025 07:42:46 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Bruna Ferreira, a 33-year-old Massachusetts woman, remains in ICE custody two weeks after her detention while on her way to pick up her son. Her lawyer claims she was held without clear reasons.

Bruna Ferreira, formerly engaged to a brother of White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, was arrested on November 12 while driving to pick up her son in New Hampshire. Ferreira's attorney states her detention was unwarranted and denies allegations of a criminal record. She had come to the U.S. as a child and was applying for a green card. Currently, she is being held in Louisiana by ICE, raising concerns regarding her treatment and immigration status.

CONCORD, N.H. — Bruna Ferreira, a 33-year-old woman from Massachusetts, is currently in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) two weeks after her arrest. On November 12, Ferreira was stopped by authorities while she was on her way to pick up her son from school in New Hampshire.

Her attorney, Todd Pomerleau, reported that she was not given a clear reason for her detainment, describing her journey as an unconstitutional 'merry-go-round' as she was moved between states.

Ferreira shares an 11-year-old son with Michael Leavitt, her former fiancé; the two have maintained a co-parenting relationship post-engagement. She’s not dangerous. She’s not a flight risk. She’s a business owner who pays taxes, Pomerleau noted, emphasizing the emotional impact of her absence on her son.

Michael Leavitt did not respond to media requests, and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt declined to comment on the situation. Karoline Leavitt, originally from New Hampshire, previously ran for Congress in 2022 and serves as a spokesperson for Donald Trump's 2024 campaign.

Ferreira moved to the U.S. from Brazil at a young age and participated in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which was designed to protect children brought to the U.S. illegally. She is currently pursuing a green card.

The Department of Homeland Security states Ferreira entered the U.S. on a tourist visa that expired in 1999 and references a past battery charge, which her attorney denies. A search of court documents has yielded no evidence of such a charge. Pomerleau called the claims unfounded and challenged the department to provide proof.

A spokesperson for DHS confirmed Ferreira is being held in Louisiana and noted that immigrants claiming DACA status are not automatically protected from deportation, highlighting the ongoing complexities of U.S. immigration policies.