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A new report from The New York Times is raising questions about how access and influence may operate behind the scenes in the Trump administration — particularly when it comes to immigration enforcement.
According to the NYT, Paolo Zampolli — a longtime associate of Donald Trump who has been credited with introducing him to Melania Trump — reached out to a senior Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official last year regarding his Brazilian ex-girlfriend, who had been arrested in Miami.
Zampolli, who currently serves as a special envoy for global partnerships, reportedly contacted ICE official David Venturella after learning that his ex, Amanda Ungaro, was in custody on fraud-related charges.
The report states that Zampolli asked whether she could be taken into ICE custody — a move that could have potentially impacted an ongoing custody battle between the two over their teenage son.
According to the NYT, Venturella then contacted ICE’s Miami office to ensure that agents would detain Ungaro before she could be released on bail. During that communication, he reportedly noted that the case was important to someone with ties to the White House.
Ungaro was ultimately placed in ICE custody and later deported.
Officials with the Department of Homeland Security told the outlet that her detention and removal were based on her immigration status and criminal charges, not outside influence. “Any suggestion that she was arrested and removed for political reasons or favors is false,” the agency said in a statement.
Zampolli also denied requesting special treatment, telling the outlet he was simply seeking information about her case.
Still, the situation is drawing attention because of what it suggests about access.
In this case, the NYT found that Zampolli referenced his relationship with Trump and the first lady while communicating with officials, though he later said he did not recall exactly what he shared.
The report also outlines Zampolli’s longstanding ties to Trump, dating back decades, including his role in introducing the president to Melania Trump in the late 1990s and his continued presence in Trump’s orbit.
For Ungaro, the outcome had lasting consequences.
After being detained, she ultimately requested to be deported back to Brazil, telling The New York Times she believed remaining in custody could impact her ability to retain custody of her son.
When informed that a senior ICE official had been contacted about her case, she told the outlet she was “devastated.”
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