Ferreira’s family strongly disputes parts of that account. Her sister, Graziela Dos Santos Rodrigues, told The Boston Globe that Ferreira has lived in the U.S. since she was six years old. “She’s more American than she is anything else,” she said, adding that Brazil no longer feels like home to her.
Rodrigues also claimed that Bob Leavitt, Karoline Leavitt’s father, contacted the family and encouraged Ferreira to “self-deport,” a suggestion she described as unrealistic. She said that Karoline Leavitt herself has not reached out. “If she wanted to help, she would have by now,” Rodrigues said.
Ferreira’s attorney, John J. Loscocco, said she has no criminal convictions and questioned why she was detained, arguing that she poses no risk to the community. The White House press office has been contacted for comment.