US arrests Brazilian mother of Trump secretary’s nephew

Bruna entered the US as a child and was protected by this status. The Brazilian, according to the defense, was in the process of obtaining a green card, the permanent visa for immigrants in the country, and was living, in the meantime, under the rules of the so-called DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), which protected people who were brought to the US as children. The mechanism has been the target of attacks by Donald Trump since his first term. Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security, Tricia McLaughlin, even said in an interview that the program did not protect beneficiaries from deportation.

Boy lives with his father

Arrest happened when she was going to pick up her son. According to Bruna’s lawyer, she and the brother of Trump’s spokesperson, Michael Leavitt, were once engaged, and now shared custody of the boy. Michael told the local press that his son has not spoken to his mother since his arrest, admitted that it is a difficult situation and said that he only wants the best for the child.

Someone close to him said that the 11-year-old boy has lived with his father since he was born. In an interview with American CNN, this source, who was not identified, said that they live in New Hampshire and that Karoline Leavitt and Bruna have not spoken for many years. When contacted by the press, Trump’s secretary declined to comment.

Family raises funds to pay for defense

Bruna’s sister, Graziela, opened crowdfunding to help with expenses. On the page, hosted on the GoFundMe platform, the family set the fundraising goal at US$30,000, just over R$161,000. According to Graziela, the money will “cover legal costs and all necessary expenses to give Bruna the best possible chance of returning to her family.” By early afternoon today, the page had already raised over 60% of the amount, almost US$19,000.