Who is Bruna Ferreira? WH Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt's relative arrested by ICE in Boston

Bruna Ferreira, ex-fiancé of WH Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt's brother Michael, was arrested by ICE and is now held in a Louisiana facility.

Published on: Nov 26, 2025, 09:57:40 IST

By Shamik Banerjee

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Bruna Ferreira, a relative of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, was arrested by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Revere, Massachusetts earlier this month. Bruna Ferreira is the ex-fiancé of Michael Leavitt, brother of Karoline Leavitt and they have a 11-year-old son.

Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary. (Bloomberg)

WBUR reported that Ferreira, who migrated from Brazil with her family as a child, is now in ICE custody in Louisiana. The connection between the White House Press Secretary, who is from New Hampshire, and Bruna Ferreira, was confirmed by a White House official. Bruna Ferreira is currently lodged at an ICE facility is Louisiana.

Who Is Bruna Ferreira?

Bruna Ferreira is the ex-fiancé of Michael Leavitt, Karoline Leavitt's middle brother. However, she and Michael have reportedly not spoken in years, according to the White House official. They have a son together who has lived full-time with his father in New Hampshire "since his birth," per the White House.

Notably, Mark Leavitt and Bruna Ferreira were not married. A family member confirmed that they separated around 10 years ago.

Why Was Bruna Ferreira Arrested?

The Department of Homeland Security said that Bruna Ferreira was living in the United States on an expired tourist visa. A DHS spokesperson said that her tourist visa expired in 1999 and she had been illegally living in the United States.

Tricia McLaughlin, a DHS spokesperson, commented on the matter, adding that Bruna Ferreira had previous arrest records for battery. However, WBUR reported that those arrest records could not be located.

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

Meanwhile, a GoFundMe was launched to cover the legal expenses of the citizenship trial.

Also read: Is Karoline Leavitt suffering from PTSD? WH Press Secretary sheds light on ‘very difficult’ job under Trump

Who Is Mark Leavitt, Karoline Leavitt's Brother?

Michael Leavitt is the middle brother of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. He was born and raised in Atkinson, New Hampshire family that owned local businesses like an ice cream shop and a used car dealership. Mike is one of three siblings—along with older brother Joe and younger sister Karoline.

Mike is the co-owner of Leavitt Auto & Truck, a family-owned used car dealership in New Hampshire. In 2014, he won $1 million in a DraftKings sports betting competition, as reported by the North Andover Eagle-Tribune.

Mike married Kara Leavitt in June 2022. Karoline shared photos from the wedding on Instagram.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shamik Banerjee
Shamik is a journalist covering the United States for Hindustan Times. He has more than four years of experience reporting on US politics, sports, and major breaking stories across fast-moving cycles. He previously worked at Times Now and Sportskeeda, building strong newsroom instincts and digital storytelling skills. At HT.com, he focuses on day-to-day coverage of US political developments while also handling high-impact stories that demand speed, accuracy, clarity, and context under pressure. Shamik has extensive experience covering NFL game days over the past two years, coordinating live updates, analysis, and explainers. He is particularly drawn to large news moments such as US elections and the Super Bowl, where he thrives at the news desk working alongside the team. He holds degrees in Media Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia and English Literature from Jadavpur University. Before entering journalism, he briefly worked in digital marketing and political consultancy roles. Currently a Senior Content Producer at HT Digital, he is driven by curiosity, discipline, and a constant desire to explore new and obscure topics. Outside work, he enjoys reading, films, sports, and learning continuously.Read More

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