Even the family of Donald Trump’s administration aren’t safe from his immigration raids.
The former partner of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s brother, Michael, has been arrested by ICE.
Bruna Ferreira, who shares an 11-year-old son with Leavitt’s brother, is currently locked up in an ICE facility in southern Louisiana.
The young boy lives with his father and stepmother full-time, but has always kept in touch with his mother, Ferreira.
Ferreira’s lawyer said she came to the US
She was in the process of securing residency when she was detained.
A source close to the family revealed to the Daily Mail: ‘This individual is the mother of Karoline’s nephew and they have not spoken in many years.’
In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security said Ferreira was a ‘criminal illegal alien’, referencing a former arrest for battery, but her lawyer has denied she has any criminal record.
‘She entered the U.S. on a B2 tourist visa that required her to depart the U.S. by June 6, 1999,’ they said.
‘Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, all individuals unlawfully present in the United States are subject to deportation.’
Ferreira’s attorney, Todd Pomerleau, said: ‘Bruna has no criminal record whatsoever. I don’t know where that is coming from. Show us the proof. There are no charges out there. She’s not a criminal illegal alien.
‘She’s in the process of actually getting her residency, and she was abruptly arrested and taken from her young child right before Thanksgiving.’
Her family has set up a GoFundMe to help in her legal fight to remain in the United States.
They wrote: ‘Bruna was brought to the United States by our parents in December of 1998, when she was just a child, entering on a visa. Since then, she has done everything in her power to build a stable, honest life here.
‘She has maintained her legal status through DACA, followed every requirement, and has always strived to do the right thing.
What is DACA?
DACA is a policy, created by former President Barack Obama, that protects nearly 800,000 young people and allows them to work legally.
Those 787,580 immigrants or ‘Dreamers’ as they are known, were brought to the US illegally as children but received two-year work permits under DACA and are protected from deportation.
They also have a chance to renew the work permit and are able to gain a driving license and enrol on college.
However, they must undergo a series of background security checks to determine that they have not committed any crime. Furthermore, they must also be a student or have completed school or military service.
‘Anyone who knows Bruna knows the kind of person she is. She is hardworking, kind, and always the first to offer help when someone needs it. Whether it’s supporting family, friends, or even strangers, Bruna has a heart that puts others before herself.’
In a statement, Michael Leavitt said, ‘My only concern has always been the safety, well-being, and privacy of my son.’
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