A family-connected detainee gains a new path to freedom as a judge orders the release of Bruna Caroline Ferreira, the mother of White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s nephew, from immigration custody. The ruling comes after Ferreira’s attorney argued at a hearing that she should not be labeled a “criminal illegal alien” by DHS, nor viewed as a flight risk.
Ferreira, a Brazilian national who is in the process of pursuing a green card and previously held DACA status, was granted release on a bond of at least $1,500. Attorney Todd Pomerleau told ABC News that the defense contended Ferreira’s record does not support the DHS’s characterizations and that she had no prior criminal history.
Pomerleau indicated Ferreira could be released either later today or tomorrow, depending on the final steps of the bond process. The White House has not yet issued a comment in response to inquiries about the case.
Two weeks earlier, DHS confirmed Ferreira had been detained. A WMUR reporter in New Hampshire verified the arrest, with Leavitt’s brother Michael also confirming Ferreira’s detention that occurred weeks prior. DHS had described Ferreira as a “criminal illegal alien,” citing a prior battery arrest and a visa overstay dating to 1999. The agency stated she entered the United States on a B2 tourist visa and has since remained in removal proceedings, noting that, under federal policy, unauthorized presence can lead to deportation.
Pomerleau pushed back on the DHS description, telling WCVB that Ferreira has no criminal record and questioning the evidence behind such claims. He noted Ferreira entered the U.S. lawfully, previously held DACA status, and is now pursuing permanent residency. He also pointed out that she was arrested in Massachusetts during a traffic stop without a warrant and that the case will be litigated long distances away in Louisiana, where proceedings are underway.
The attorney stressed that any alleged connection to Karoline Leavitt should not influence Ferreira’s case, calling the link coincidental. ABC News contributed to this report through its correspondents Armando Garcia, Jason Volack, and Hannah Demissie.
