Bruna Ferreira, Mother of Karoline Leavitt’s Nephew, Pushes Back Against White House Claims Following ICE Detention
Bruna Ferreira, who was released from ICE custody Monday on bond, denies claims that she’s an absentee parent
Bruna Ferreira, the Brazilian-born mother of White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s nephew, is speaking out. Detained by U.S. immigration authorities in November, she now rejects the White House’s depiction of her as an absentee parent, calling it “disgusting.”
The 33-year-old was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a traffic stop in Massachusetts and held at a Louisiana detention center. The White House had claimed she had not lived with her son or spoken to Leavitt “in many years,” statements Ferreira says are entirely false.
Ferreira had a relationship with Leavitt’s brother, Michael Leavitt, 35, and together they share an 11-year-old son, Michael Jr. She described her daily involvement in her son’s life: driving him to school, cheering at his sports games, and taking him to places like Dave & Buster’s. “I fill his bedroom with everything a young boy needs,” she said.
Her commitment extends beyond day-to-day care. Ferreira went to great lengths to ensure her son could attend Leavitt’s wedding to real estate developer Nicholas Riccio in January and approved his participation in the White House Easter egg hunt in the spring.
“I asked Karoline to be godmother [to Michael Jr.] over my only sister,” Ferreira said. “I made a mistake there, in trusting. Why they’re creating this narrative is beyond my wildest imagination.”
On Monday, Ferreira was released on a $1,500 bond after Immigration Judge Cynthia Goodman allowed her freedom on the lowest-dollar bail possible. Her attorney, Jason Thomas, told the court that the government’s portrayal of Ferreira was “both unfair and untrue.” A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) attorney did not object to her release, agreeing that she posed no danger and was not a flight risk.
DHS confirmed Ferreira’s detention followed a prior arrest for battery and noted that her tourist visa required her to leave the U.S. by June 6, 1999. But Ferreira, who arrived in the United States at age six, insists she has no criminal record. Her lawyer, Todd Pomerleau, suggested authorities may have been referencing a 2008 incident when Ferreira, then 16, was summoned to juvenile court over a fight outside a Dunkin’ Donuts for $8. The case was dismissed, and Pomerleau emphasized that it did not constitute criminal activity because she was a minor.
Ferreira recounted how she met Michael Leavitt at a nightclub, fell in love, got engaged, and had a child. They lived together for years before breaking up in 2015, after which they continued to share parenting responsibilities.
In court filings, Ferreira claimed her son’s father had previously threatened to try to have her deported. Michael Leavitt denied any involvement, telling the Post: “I had no involvement in her being picked up by ICE. I have no control over that and had no involvement in that whatsoever.” He stressed that he has always wanted their son “to have a relationship with his mother.”
Ferreira also revealed that other detainees at the immigration center had asked about her connection to the White House press secretary. “Did she not like you?” one asked.
“Your guess is as good as mine,” Ferreira said.
Despite the legal struggles and the public scrutiny, Ferreira maintains her focus on her son. Her story, she said, is one of love, dedication, and the fight against being mischaracterized. “I am a mother. I have always been a mother,” she said. “Everything else is noise.”