Brazilian Model Alleges 'Hellish' ICE Detention Conditions

Amanda Ungaro claims she was held with 'child murderers' and 'came out infested with lice'

Apr. 12, 2026 at 5:23pm

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A cinematic painting depicting a solitary figure sitting on a bench in a dimly lit, shadowy hallway of an immigration detention center, the scene bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conveying a sense of isolation and despair.Ungaro's harrowing account of her ICE detention experience exposes the harsh realities faced by many immigrants in the U.S. justice system.Today in Miami

Amanda Ungaro, a Brazilian model with past social ties to former President Donald Trump and former First Lady Melania Trump, has described what she called a 'hellish' experience in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. Ungaro said she was held first in Miami and later transferred to Louisiana, where she was kept in a hall with more than 120 detainees, went days without sunlight, and 'came out infested with lice.'

Why it matters

Ungaro's claims arrive as the United States continues to face legal and political battles over the Trump administration's immigration enforcement, detention standards, and due process for noncitizens. Her previous proximity to the Trumps and to Italian modeling agent Paolo Zampolli, who was appointed by Trump to a UN role, gave the case heightened visibility and underscored tensions between personal networks and public policy.

The details

Ungaro said police arrested her and her husband in Florida in June after an anonymous tip related to a cosmetic clinic. She told El País she had no prior criminal record and was placed in a cell with 'child murderers.' The model said she was handcuffed and transferred to an immigration detention center in Miami, where she 'spent the whole day crying,' and saw an elderly detainee 'handcuffed to a wheelchair.' She described another incident where a woman who miscarried 'waited an agonizingly long time for medical care.' Ungaro also noted some detainees she was kept with had residency permits.

  • Ungaro was arrested in Florida in June.
  • Ungaro was held in an ICE detention center in Miami.
  • Ungaro was later transferred to a facility in Louisiana.

The players

Amanda Ungaro

A 41-year-old Brazilian model with past social ties to former President Donald Trump and former First Lady Melania Trump.

Paolo Zampolli

An Italian modeling agent credited with introducing Melania Trump to Donald Trump, who was appointed by Trump to be a special representative for global partnerships at the United Nations.

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What they’re saying

“I will tear down your corrupt system, even if it's the last thing I do in my life. I will go all the way—I am not afraid. Maybe you should be afraid of what I know … of who you are, and who your husband is.”

— Amanda Ungaro

“Any suggestion that she was arrested and removed for political reasons or favors is FALSE.”

— DHS Officials

What’s next

It was not immediately clear whether Ungaro plans to pursue legal action in the U.S. or Brazil regarding her detention or deportation.

The takeaway

Ungaro's allegations highlight ongoing concerns about immigration detention conditions and due process, as well as the potential for political connections to influence enforcement actions, even if authorities deny such interference.