An immigration judge ordered the release on bond of Bruna Ferreira, a 33-year-old Brazilian woman facing deportation proceedings whose case has drawn public attention because of her ties to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
The decision, revealed by The Washington Post, will allow Bruna Ferreira to continue the fight to remain in the United States while on parole rather than in detention.
Bruna Ferreira is released by ICE
Bruna Ferreira was arrested last November 12 in Massachusetts by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
According to the agency, the woman remained in the country even though her tourist visa expired in 1999, an argument ICE used to justify her detention and eventual deportation.
Immigration Judge Cynthia Goodman ordered Ferreira released on $1,500 bond, the minimum amount authorized, after evaluating the arguments of her attorneys and the immigration history of the case.
The situation generated media interest because Bruna Ferreira shares custody of her 11-year-old son with her ex-fiancé, Michael Leavitt, brother of the White House spokeswoman.
However, President Donald Trump’s administration clarified that this link does not influence the immigration process.
In a statement, the White House noted that Bruna Ferreira has had no contact with Karoline Leavitt in years and never lived with her son, thus disassociating any direct relationship with the official.
Accusations and defense
ICE also claimed that Ferreira is an “illegal immigrant with a criminal record,” referring to a previous arrest for assault.
However, defense attorneys strongly denied that there is a criminal conviction that aggravates his immigration case.
The legal representation argues that the process should focus on the prolonged stay after the expiration of the visa and not on allegations without judicial support.
Prior to her arrest, Ferreira resided in Massachusetts, but was transferred to an immigration detention center in Louisiana, where she was awaiting a court decision.
With Judge Goodman’s order, he will now be able to return to his community while his immigration court proceedings continue.
A complex case with family tensions
Tu donativo brinda terapias, esperanza y un futuro sin límites a niños con discapacidad. Haz la diferencia hoy.
Dona y cambia vidas
Court documents cited by WBUR television provide more context on the family history.
Bruna Ferreira and Michael Leavitt ended their engagement shortly after the birth of their son.
Police witnessed the delivery of the engagement ring and Leavitt’s request that Bruna Ferreira return the keys to a vehicle she was using.
In addition, according to Ferreira’s statements included in documents in the custody case, her ex-fiancé threatened to contact Immigration to have her deported, an element that adds tension to the legal and family dispute.
Release on bond does not stop the deportation process, but it does allow Bruna Ferreira to gather evidence, witnesses and legal representation while she remains with her son and her community.
For many similarly situated immigrants, being able to face the process outside of detention makes a significant difference, as it facilitates access to lawyers and reduces the emotional impact on families.
