The mother of White House press secretary Carolyn Levitt’s nephew was ordered released from immigration detention on Monday, according to her attorney.
Bruna Caroline Ferreira, who is applying for a green card and previously held DACA status, was released on a minimum bail of $1,500 by an immigration judge.
Ferreira’s attorney, Todd Pomerleau, told ABC News that he argued at the hearing that his client was not what the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) describes as an “illegal alien with criminal conduct,” nor that she was a flight risk.
Ferreira is expected to be released from jail Monday or Tuesday, Pomerleau said.
The White House did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for comment.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed Ferreira was in custody two weeks ago. A reporter from ABC’s New Hampshire station WMUR spoke with Leavitt’s brother, Michael Leavitt, who also confirmed the arrest and said Ferreira had been taken into custody weeks ago.
Evan Vucci/AP – Photo: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt holds a news conference at the White House on November 20, 2025 in Washington.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesman later described Ferreira, a Brazilian national, as an “illegal alien with a criminal record” who had been arrested for assault and had overstayed a visa that expired in 1999.
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“ICE arrested Bruna Caroline Ferreria, an illegal immigrant from Brazil. She was previously arrested for assault. She entered the United States on a B2 tourist visa, which required her to leave the United States by June 6, 1999,” a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said. “She is currently in South Louisiana ICE processing centers and are undergoing deportation proceedings. Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, all persons in the United States illegally will be deported,” the spokesperson said.
“Brunner doesn’t have any criminal record, I don’t know where this comes from. Show us the evidence,” Pomerleau told Boston ABC station WCVB after news of Ferreria’s arrest was announced.
Pomeroy also said at the time that Ferreira entered the country legally, had previously held DACA status, and was currently applying for a green card. He further stated that his client was pulled over and arrested in her car in Massachusetts without a warrant, adding that he must now prosecute her case thousands of miles away from her home in Louisiana.
Pomerleau also told WCVB that he did not believe his client’s relationship with Caroline Levitt would affect the case, adding that he believed it was just “accidental.”
abc news Armando Garcia, Jason Volack and Hannah Demissie contributed to this story.
