The Trump administration’s sweeping immigration enforcement push has taken an unexpectedly personal turn for one of its most high-profile officials. Bruna Caroline Ferreira, a Brazilian immigrant and the biological mother of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s nephew, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement earlier this month, according to sources familiar with the matter and confirmed to NBC News.

Ferreira, 32, was taken into custody in Revere, Massachusetts, and later transferred to the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center, where she is now undergoing removal proceedings. ICE officials describe her as a “criminal illegal alien” who overstayed a tourist visa that expired more than 25 years ago, in June 1999.

The case has intensified scrutiny of the administration’s aggressive immigration policies under President Donald Trump and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, while raising uncomfortable questions about how those policies affect the families of senior White House staff.

Leavitt declined comment, but sources close to the family stress that she has no relationship with Ferreira, who has not lived with or had contact with Leavitt’s nephew for years.

Still, the optics are political dynamite.

ICE: Ferreira Is a “Criminal Illegal Alien”

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security confirmed Ferreira’s arrest and detention, citing two key factors:

She overstayed her tourist visa by over two decades

She has a prior arrest on suspicion of battery

It remains unclear how the battery case was resolved, and court records have not yet been made public.

A DHS spokesperson reiterated the administration’s hardline stance:

“Under President Donald Trump and Secretary Noem, all individuals unlawfully present in the United States are subject to deportation.”

This language mirrors recent White House briefings where Leavitt, 28, has defended Trump’s expanded deportation directives, including operations targeting DACA recipients, visa overstays, and undocumented individuals with even minor criminal histories.

Family: “She Built an Honest Life Here”

Ferreira’s relatives launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for legal representation, portraying her as a long-time resident who came to the U.S. as a child in 1998 and has “done everything in her power to build a stable, honest life.”

They insist she maintained legal status under DACA, though DHS officials counter that DACA recipients can lose protection if they commit certain offenses.

Her family paints a picture of a woman with deep roots in the U.S. An excerpt from the GoFundMe reads:

“Bruna deserves to stay in the only home she has ever known. She came here as a child and has worked hard, lived honorably, and built her life here in America.”

The Associated Press reported this week that some DACA recipients were detained during recent immigration sweeps — a signal that the administration may be broadening its interpretation of who is removable.

Leavitt’s Quiet Distance From the Situation

While the case has made headlines, aides emphasize that the Trump spokesperson has no personal involvement in the matter.

Sources familiar with the family dynamic say:

Leavitt’s nephew has lived with his father in New Hampshire since birth

He has not spoken to his mother in many years

Leavitt herself has no personal relationship with Ferreira

The apparent estrangement underscores the sensitivity of the issue: the press secretary is now, indirectly, tied to the very deportation machinery she publicly defends.

The story was first reported by WBUR, Boston University’s public broadcaster.

Political Fallout: “No Exceptions, No Favorites”

The revelation has sparked commentary across the political spectrum.

Conservatives

Some argue the story illustrates the consistency of Trump’s immigration policies.

A GOP strategist told NBC:

“If anything, this shows the administration isn’t playing favorites.”

Others suggest critics may try to weaponize the family connection unfairly.

Democrats

Immigration advocates call the situation a “painful example” of the human collateral in Trump’s deportation agenda, noting Ferreira’s long-term presence in the country and the lack of recent criminal charges.

A Democratic aide in Congress argued:

“This is what happens when you expand deportation authority to include people who pose no threat. Even families of Trump officials aren’t spared.”

Wider Context: ICE Sweeps Intensify

Ferreira’s detention comes as the Trump administration accelerates mass enforcement operations:

DACA recipients have been detained

TPS (Temporary Protected Status) protections for several nationalities have been terminated

Localized raids targeting “sanctuary” states like Massachusetts are increasing

DHS claims millions of deportations are “feasible” over the next two years

Trump has repeatedly stated that no undocumented individual is exempt from removal.

To many, Ferreira’s case is stark proof.

What Comes Next

Ferreira’s legal team will likely argue:

Her longtime residence

Her alleged past DACA protections

Her lack of recent criminal activity

Her ties to U.S.-citizen children

Still, immigration lawyers warn that visa overstays are among the hardest cases to fight, especially under current DHS leadership.

If deported, Ferreira could be barred from returning for 10 years or more, depending on the final ruling.

The White House has maintained its silence.