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Brazilian mother tied to Leavitt family detained by ICE, later released on bond

Dec 8, 2025·Location: Revere, MA

Country of origin: Brazil

Brazilian mother tied to Leavitt family detained by ICE, later released on bond
Photo via english.elpais.com

Bruna Ferreira, a Brazilian woman who arrived in the U.S. in 1998 at age six and previously held DACA protection, was arrested by ICE agents on November 12, 2025, in Massachusetts while driving to pick up her 11-year-old son from school. Ferreira shares custody of her son with her former fiancé Michael Leavitt, brother of White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. She has no criminal convictions, and her brother, sister and son are U.S. citizens. She was held for 26 days across multiple facilities, including the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Basile, Louisiana, before an immigration judge granted her release on a $1,500 bond on December 8 after DHS attorneys did not challenge her release. She remains in removal proceedings with mandatory periodic check-ins with ICE.

Timeline

Dec 8, 2025—Immigration judge granted release on $1,500 bond after 26 days in detention
Nov 12, 2025—Bruna Ferreira arrested by ICE agents in Massachusetts while driving to pick up her son from school
Nov 12, 2025—Transferred to South Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Basile, Louisiana
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