The family of Karoline Leavitt, the youngest press secretary in American history and a prominent face of the Trump administration, has been thrust into the spotlight following the immigration detention of her brother's former partner.
Family Ties and the ICE Detention
Karoline Leavitt, a 28-year-old Republican known for her staunch conservative values, hails from a Catholic, middle-class family in New Hampshire. Her parents, Bob and Erin Leavitt, run a seasonal ice cream stand, while her brother Michael and father operate a used car dealership.
The family's public image shifted when it emerged that Bruna Ferreira, the former partner of her brother Michael and the biological mother of his 11-year-old son, was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Revere, Massachusetts. She is currently being held at a facility in Louisiana.
Conflicting Narratives and Legal Claims
The case has sparked conflicting accounts from official sources and Ferreira's legal representative. The Department of Homeland Security labelled Ferreira a 'criminal illegal alien' with a previous arrest for battery.
However, her lawyer, Todd Pomerleau, strongly refutes these claims. 'Bruna has no criminal record whatsoever,' he stated, challenging authorities to provide proof. Pomerleau added that Ferreira arrived in the US from Brazil as a child in 1998 under the DACA program and was in the process of obtaining her residency.
Michael Leavitt confirmed that his son lives with him and his wife, Kara, full-time but maintains a relationship with his biological mother. A source close to the family indicated that Karoline Leavitt has not spoken with Ferreira in many years.
Leavitt's Life in the Political Spotlight
Meanwhile, Karoline Leavitt continues her demanding role serving former President Donald Trump, a position she has held on and off since 2019. She recently revealed to the Daily Mail that the gruelling hours have given her post-traumatic stress disorder about making personal plans with her husband, 60-year-old real estate developer Nicholas Riccio, with whom she has a one-year-old son, Niko.
Her fidelity and proximity to the president are said to be matched only by Trump's most senior advisers, cementing her status as a key figure in his inner circle amidst this personal family matter.
