For Boston-area resident Bruna Ferreira, things have become bleak. Agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained her. On the morning of November 12, Ferreira had just gotten home to Massachusetts after dropping her eight-month-old son off at daycare in New Hampshire. You see, that’s when the incident happened. Witnesses say ICE agents appeared out of nowhere and surrounded her vehicle. Now, she is in ICE custody at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center under community accord under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act.
Born in Brazil, Ferreira immigrated to the United States with her family as a child. She’s been in the country since age six. She’s done her best to stay completely within the law. She has remained in the U.S. legally with support from the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Under this program, young people who entered the U.S. as children are provided temporary protection from deportation. Ferreira initially entered the U.S. on a B2 tourist visa, requiring her to leave by June 6th, 1999. Despite her long residency and compliance with immigration regulations, her current situation raises significant concerns regarding her future in the country.
Ferreira’s narrative received additional play when it was reported that she is currently engaged to White House press secretary — and former Trump spokesperson — Karoline Leavitt. This combination has raised a huge swell of public awareness and outrage about her detention. Ferreira’s attorney, Todd Pomerleau, pointed out that his client is in the middle of pursuing a legal immigration avenue. This new initiative specifically aims to ensure access to U.S. citizenship. He assured them that Ferreira was above-board on immigration and that she was devoted to doing “the right thing.”
To cover the costs of her sister Ferreira’s legal fees from her case, Ferreira’s sister Graziela Dos Santos Rodrigues stepped up. She started a GoFundMe page to raise the funds required. The goal of the campaign is to raise money for their legal representation. This support will enable Ferreira to fight the ICE charges and continue to seek permanent residence in the U.S.
The Department of Homeland Security has yet to respond to multiple inquiries about Ferreira’s arrest. Spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated that Ferreira previously had an arrest for battery. This new development is another complication to her continuing precarious legal situation. It is uncertain how this past encounter will impact her immediate immigration situation.
Ferreira’s son has been living with him full-time in New Hampshire since birth. This new layer of emotional context is felt as Ferreira navigates these difficult times. As she remains in custody, concerns mount about the impact of her detention on her young son and their family dynamics.
Community members and supporters have been rallying around Ferreira since her detainment, joining in outrage at the circumstances that led to her detention. Many argue that individuals like Ferreira, who have built lives in the U.S. and followed legal processes, should not face such severe consequences for their immigration status. The case has initiated wider discussions about immigration policies and enforcement practices, especially toward DACA recipients.
Ferreira’s legal team is doing everything possible to get her released and help her win the right to remain in the U.S. The fate of this case is yet to be determined. The story underscores the web of complexities in today’s immigration law and the human stories behind each case.