Mother of Karoline Leavitt’s Nephew Breaks Silence After ICE Arrest, Sends Sharp Message to White House Press Secretary

Bruna Caroline Ferreira, the mother of Karoline Leavitt’s nephew and godson, has spoken out publicly for the first time since being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in November, delivering pointed criticism toward the White House press secretary.

Ferreira, 33, shares an 11-year-old son with Michael Leavitt, Karoline Leavitt’s older brother. She was arrested on Nov. 12 in Revere, Massachusetts, while picking her son up from school. In her first interview since the incident, aired on CNN on Dec. 12, Ferreira appeared alongside her attorney, Todd Pomerleau, and described the experience as shocking and traumatic.

Karoline Leavitt, 28, is the godmother of Ferreira’s son—a role Ferreira said she chose for her “over my own sister.” But during the interview, Ferreira expressed deep disappointment.

“What I would say to Karoline is this: Just because you went to a Catholic school doesn’t make you a good Catholic,” Ferreira said. “You’re a mother now. How would you feel if you were in my shoes? How would you feel if someone did this to you?”

Leavitt, who is the mother of a 1-year-old son named Niko with her husband Nicholas Riccio, has not publicly commented on the arrest. A source previously told PEOPLE that she has not spoken with Ferreira—her brother’s former fiancée and co-parent—in many years.

Ferreira said she came to the United States from Brazil in 1998 at the age of six. At the time of her arrest, she was in the process of applying for a green card and had previously been protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program during the Obama administration.

She was released from the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center days before her CNN appearance, following an order from an immigration judge.

Ferreira described her weeks in ICE custody as “mind-boggling,” saying she was transferred across multiple states without being told where she was going. “They kept moving me, and no one would explain anything,” she said.

After news of her detention became public, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson confirmed her arrest, stating that her tourist visa had expired in 1999. DHS also alleged that Ferreira had a prior arrest for battery—an accusation her attorney has repeatedly denied.

Ferreira strongly rejected the claim on CNN, describing herself as “a law-abiding citizen.”
“I don’t even have a parking ticket,” she said.

Asked about being labeled a “criminal” by the administration, Ferreira said she was devastated—especially for her family.

“I’m heartbroken for my son. I’m heartbroken for my mother, who has worked for 25 years cleaning houses, earning an honest living and paying her taxes,” she said. “I’m proud of my name. I’ve always carried it like a badge of honor.”

She expressed concern about the impact the public accusations could have on her child.
“My son is watching this being broadcast 24/7. As a child, he must be terrified—wondering if his mom did something wrong,” she said. “I just want him to know none of it is true.”

Reflecting on her time in detention, Ferreira said she met many women in even more desperate situations—some pregnant, others with multiple children separated from them for months or years.

“They prayed for me, and I prayed for them,” she said. “I can’t imagine not knowing where your child is, what they’re eating, or if they’re safe. It’s cruel.”

Ferreira became emotional while recalling her transfer to Louisiana, which she said ICE agents described as her “final stop before deportation.”

“When I saw ‘Mexico’ on the paperwork, I begged the agent to tell me if they were taking me across the border,” she said. “He told me, ‘No, this is your final destination.’ I just cried and slept the entire way.”

She said she was finally able to contact her family and attorneys after another detainee shared her phone minutes.

Toward the end of the interview, Ferreira addressed a White House claim that she had “never lived” with her son, calling it a blatant lie.

“Why lie when it’s 2025 and everything leaves a digital footprint?” she said, laughing softly as she described their weekly routines together. “Every Wednesday, my son and I go to Dave & Buster’s. We’re extreme couponers.”

“I’m just as confused as everyone else,” Ferreira concluded. “And I’m hoping this interview finally brings some answer