ICE Releases Woman Connected to White House Press Secretary After Legal Challenge:

Ferreira has lived in Massachusetts for many years. She was taken into ICE custody last month while driving to pick up her 11-year-old son in New Hampshire. At the time of her arrest, officials said she may be in violation of immigration laws. Ferreira was previously engaged to Michael Leavitt, the brother of Karoline Leavitt, and the two share a son. Her lawyer, Todd Pomerleau, said that during the bond hearing, they argued Ferreira was neither a danger to the public nor a flight risk. According to him, government attorneys did not challenge this argument. “The government stipulated to our argument and never once argued that she was a criminal illegal alien, and they waived appeal,” he said. The White House quickly attempted to distance Karoline Leavitt from the case, saying in a statement that Ferreira had not spoken to the press secretary “in years.” Officials in the Trump administration, however, have repeated claims that Ferreira has a criminal history, though no evidence has been provided to support those accusations. Court documents, family photos, and previous reporting paint a different picture. These records indicate Ferreira lived with her son at various points and shared custody with Michael Leavitt. In an interview with The Washington Post, Ferreira said she had even chosen Karoline Leavitt to be her son’s godmother, highlighting the closeness they once shared. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in an email statement that Ferreira is a “criminal illegal alien” who had previously been detained on a battery charge. Ferreira’s lawyer strongly denies this claim. DHS also stated that Ferreira originally came to the United States on a B2 tourist visa and was expected to leave in 1999. As part of her release, Ferreira will have regular check-ins with ICE to make sure she complies with all conditions set by the agency. One Trump administration official went further, describing Ferreira as an absentee parent who “has never lived with her son.” The official said the child has lived full-time with Michael Leavitt in New Hampshire since birth. Ferreira rejected this claim, calling it “disgusting” and completely false. Local reporting from the North Andover Eagle-Tribune shows that Ferreira and Michael Leavitt were engaged in 2014, when their son was eight months old. Pomerleau said this supports their statement that Ferreira has always played an active role as a parent. The lawyer also explained that Ferreira came to the United States as a young child and later enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. DACA protects people brought to the U.S. without authorization as children. According to Pomerleau, Ferreira, now 33, still has valid DACA status and is currently applying for a green card. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has declined to comment on the case. She rose to national attention as Donald Trump’s spokeswoman during his 2024 campaign and is now a key figure in the administration, especially on immigration issues. Leavitt has publicly supported stricter ICE actions, even as her family is now connected to this high-profile case.

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