According to the American newspaper, Ferreira entered U.S. territory in 1999 on a tourist visa, then overstayed her permitted period of stay and remained in the country for more than two decades. Records show that in past years, she was investigated in cases related to identity theft and the use of forged credit cards, before being apprehended by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Massachusetts.
The report clarified that Ferreira was previously engaged to Karoline Leavitt’s brother, and that their relationship ended years ago, but the newspaper described her as “close” to the spokeswoman, which sparked widespread resentment, arguing that the relationship was just an old emotional connection and does not represent a current family tie.
Ferreira’s lawyer denied that his client has an active criminal record, and pointed out that she entered the United States as a child, and that she had applied for permanent residency (Green Card) earlier. He also announced her transfer to a detention center in Louisiana pending a decision on her deportation case.
Karoline Leavitt, 27, serves as White House spokeswoman in the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, and is known for her strict stances on illegal immigration, which gave the case a political dimension and sparked a wide discussion about the mechanisms for implementing immigration laws and the standards followed in their implementation.
The “New York Post” report indicated that the investigation being conducted by ICE comes as part of a broader campaign targeting immigrants who have overstayed their legal residence, in a move that reflects an increasing tightening of current immigration policies in the United States.
