By Jasmine LawsShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberThe mother of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt's nephew was arrested earlier this month by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) near Boston, according to CNN, citing her attorney.
The woman, Bruna Caroline Ferreira, who is a Brazil native, was arrested on November 12 and currently remains in custody, lawyer Todd Pomerleau told the news outlet.
Leavitt’s brother Michael said his son has lived with him in New Hampshire since he was born but Ferreira has maintained a relationship with her child, according to local news outlet WMUR. An unnamed source told CNN, Ferreira and the White House press secretary have not spoken in many years.
Newsweek has contacted the White House and DHS outside of regular working hours via email for comment.
"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," Graziela Dos Santos Rodrigues, who is reported to be Ferreira's sister, wrote on a GoFundMe page trying to raise money to cover her legal fees.
The GoFundMe was verified by the lawyer to CNN. Newsweek has not independently verified the account.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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