The sister-in-law of White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt penned a provocative Instagram post about her stepson, whose Brazilian mom was arrested by ICE agents.
Kara Leavitt, née Lesiczka, shared an image of herself alongside Karoline’s brother Michael, their newborn son Jackson and Michael Jr on Instagram in 2021.
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’.
Michael Jr’s biological mother, Bruna Ferreira, was taken into ICE custody in Revere, Massachusetts, and is being held at an ICE facility in Louisiana.
According to Ferreira’s lawyer, she arrived in the US as a child with her family from Brazil.
Todd Pomerleau said Ferreira came to America in 1998 under the federally protected DACA program and was in the process of getting her residency.
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.
The used-car dealership owner, who lives in New Hampshire, told WBUR that 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 Michael Jr, 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.
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.
