The sister-in-law of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Kara Leavitt, recently made waves with a bold Instagram post concerning her stepson, whose Brazilian mother was detained by ICE. In her post, Kara, formerly known as Kara Lesiczka, shared a photo featuring herself, her husband Michael Leavitt—Karoline’s brother—their newborn son Jackson, and Michael’s older son, Michael Jr.

Michael Jr.’s biological mother, Bruna Ferreira, was apprehended by ICE agents in Revere, Massachusetts, and is currently held in an ICE detention facility located in Louisiana.

The 28-year-old captioned it: ‘Family post. These are my boys, my heart, my world’, alongside it she used hash tags including ‘stepmomlove’ and ‘motherhood’. 

Bruna Ferreira’s attorney, Todd Pomerleau, explained that she came to the United States as a child with her family from Brazil. He noted that she arrived in 1998 under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and was in the midst of securing her residency status.

According to Ferreira’s lawyer Todd Pomerleau, she arrived in the US as a child with her family from Brazil. 

He said Ferreira arrived in 1998 under the federally protected DACA program and was in the process of getting her residency.

Leavitt’s brother Michael said in a statement that the 11-year-old lives with him and his wife full-time, but has always maintained a relationship with his biological mother.

Michael, who owns a used car dealership in New Hampshire, told WBUR his ‘only concern has always been the safety, well-being, and privacy of [his] son.’

In a post dated February 2021, Kara Leavitt shared an image of herself alongside her husband Michael, their son Jackson, and her stepson Michael Jr

She described the trio as ‘my boys’, adding several hashtags to her caption including #stepmomlove

Ferreira was taken into custody in Massachusetts, and is currently being held at an ICE facility in southern Louisiana. She has an 11-year-old son with Leavitt’s brother, the two are seen here

Michael said the little boy has not had an opportunity to speak with his mom since she was first detained by ICE ‘several weeks ago’.

A source familiar with the family dynamic told the Daily Mail that Karoline has not spoken with her nephew’s mother in many years.

‘This individual is the mother of Karoline’s nephew and they have not spoken in many years,’ the insider said.

‘The child has lived full-time in New Hampshire with his father since he was born. He has never resided with his mother.’

The Department of Homeland Security told the Daily Mail that Ferreira is a ‘criminal illegal alien’ who ‘has a previous arrest for battery’.

‘She entered the US on a B2 tourist visa that required her to depart the US by June 6, 1999,’ the spokesman said. 

‘Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, all individuals unlawfully present in the United States are subject to deportation.’ 

Pomerleau added: ‘Bruna has no criminal record whatsoever. I don’t know where that is coming from. 

Michael Leavitt is seen with Bruna Ferreira and their son in a throwback image

Karoline Leavitt is seen here addressing reporters inside the briefing room of the White House last week 

‘Show us the proof. There’s no charges out there. She’s not a criminal illegal alien.

‘She’s in the process of actually getting her residency and she was abruptly arrested and taken from her young child right before Thanksgiving.’ 

Ferreira’s devastated family have shared details of her ordeal in a GoFundMe seeking donations to cover her legal expenses.

They wrote: ‘My family is going through one of the most difficult moments of our lives, and we’re reaching out with a humble plea for help. 

‘My sister, Bruna, was recently detained by immigration and is now fighting to stay in the country she has called home for nearly her entire life.’

The family argued that Ferreira was brought to the United States in 1998 on a visa, and has since done ‘everything in her power to build a stable, honest life here’.

The Department of Homeland Security told the Daily Mail that Ferreira is a ‘criminal illegal alien’, her lawyer has refuted this  

Little Michael Leavitt Junior has lived full-time with his father, Michael (pictured) and his wife, Kara (pictured) 

‘Anyone who knows Bruna knows the kind of person she is. She is hardworking, kind, and always the first to offer help when someone needs it. 

‘Whether it’s supporting family, friends, or even strangers, Bruna has a heart that puts others before herself.’

It added that her absence has been hard on Michael Jr who ‘hopes every single day that she’ll be home in time for the holidays’. 

Ferreira and Michael separated about ten years ago, insiders say. During their relationship, Michael reportedly won $1 million in a DraftKings competition.

At the time, he was engaged to Ferreira and their son was eight-months-old. Speaking to The North Andover Eagle-Tribune about the win, the couple said they were ‘speechless’ but ‘don’t really need much.’

‘We have our health. We have a nice condo. We really are blessed,’ Fereirra said. ‘I need the lights fixed on the back of my car, and we need a lamp for my son’s room.’

The Daily Mail has contacted Michael and his wife for further comment, as well as Ferreira’s lawyer.