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Amanda U.: Brazilian ex-model deported after Trump ally allegedly pushed ICE during custody fight

Amanda Ungaro, a Brazilian former model who lived in the U.S. over two decades, was held for months and deported in October 2025. She says her ex-partner, a Trump associate, pushed ICE to detain her amid a custody dispute.

Mar 20, 2026Miami, FLCountry of origin: Brazil

Amanda U.: Brazilian ex-model deported after Trump ally allegedly pushed ICE during custody fight
Photo via Seattle Times

Amanda Ungaro, a 41-year-old Brazilian former model who had lived in the U.S. for over two decades, was arrested in June 2025 on fraud charges tied to unlicensed cosmetic procedures at a Florida wellness center. She was held for roughly three and a half months at ICE facilities in Miami and Louisiana before being deported to Brazil in October 2025. Ungaro alleges her ex-partner Paolo Zampolli, a Trump associate and presidential special envoy and the father of their teenage son, contacted senior ICE official David Venturella to ensure she was detained and removed amid a bitter child custody dispute. Zampolli and the Department of Homeland Security denied the allegations, with DHS saying her removal was based on a visa overstay and the fraud charges. An arrest warrant remains open should she return to the United States.

Timeline

Oct 1, 2025—Ungaro deported to Brazil; DHS and Zampolli deny allegations, citing visa overstay and fraud charges as basis for removal
Jul 1, 2025—Ungaro held at ICE facilities in Miami and Louisiana for about three and a half months
Jun 15, 2025—Paolo Zampolli allegedly asked ICE official David Venturella to arrange her detention amid custody dispute
Jun 1, 2025—Amanda Ungaro arrested in Florida on fraud charges related to unlicensed cosmetic procedures
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