Brazilian Model Alleges ICE Detention After Custody Battle With Trump Ally

Amanda Ungaro says she was deported at the request of Paolo Zampolli, a longtime Trump associate.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 3:03pm

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A cinematic painting of a solitary immigration detention center, with warm sunlight casting deep shadows across the austere, institutional building, conveying a sense of melancholy and the human impact of the immigration enforcement process.The disturbing scenes described by a Brazilian model detained by ICE highlight the human toll of potential abuse of power in the immigration system.NYC Today

Amanda Ungaro, a Brazilian model, claims she was detained by ICE at the request of Paolo Zampolli, an Italian modeling agent with ties to Donald and Melania Trump. Ungaro alleges Zampolli, her former partner and the father of her son, used her immigration status as a means of control during their bitter custody battle. She says she was handcuffed, transferred to an immigration detention center, and ultimately deported back to Brazil after spending months in custody.

Why it matters

This case highlights the potential for abuse of power and the use of immigration enforcement as a tool in personal disputes, raising concerns about the fairness and transparency of the immigration system. It also shines a light on the connections between Trump-affiliated individuals and the immigration enforcement apparatus.

The details

According to Ungaro, she was arrested at her home in Florida along with her husband on fraud charges after an anonymous tip. She claims she was then transferred to ICE custody at the request of Zampolli, who is locked in a custody battle with Ungaro over their 16-year-old son. Ungaro says she spent months in immigration detention centers, describing disturbing conditions including an octogenarian handcuffed to a wheelchair and a woman who miscarried and waited a long time for medical care. She was eventually deported to Brazil, where she says she had nothing except the prison uniform on her back.

  • In June, Ungaro was arrested at her home in Florida.
  • Ungaro spent three and a half months in immigration detention centers before being deported to Brazil.

The players

Amanda Ungaro

A Brazilian model who alleges she was detained by ICE at the request of her former partner, Paolo Zampolli, during a bitter custody battle over their son.

Paolo Zampolli

An Italian modeling agent with ties to Donald and Melania Trump, who Ungaro claims used his influence to have her detained and deported.

Jeffrey Epstein

The late sex offender who Ungaro says recruited her to the U.S. at age 17, and was a known associate of Zampolli's.

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What they’re saying

“It was not enough for him to destroy me during 20 years of relationship: he wanted to destroy me again when I started a new life, when I got married.”

— Amanda Ungaro

“For me, Jeffrey Epstein was a financial partner of Victoria's Secret. I had to deal with him. We never get along, thank God. But I had to have a very cordial relationship.”

— Paolo Zampolli

What’s next

Ungaro's case is likely to raise further questions about the potential for abuse within the immigration enforcement system, and the influence of Trump-affiliated individuals on government agencies.

The takeaway

This case highlights the need for greater oversight and accountability in the immigration system, to prevent it from being used as a tool for personal vendettas or political influence. It also underscores the complex web of relationships and power dynamics that can intersect with immigration enforcement.