How Trump Friend Paolo Zampolli Weaponised ICE Against His Ex-Partner, Report Claims

Paolo Zampolli, a former modelling agent serving as a special envoy to the president, reportedly contacted a senior official at Immigration and Customs Enforcement to flag his ex-partner's immigration status during an ongoing custody dispute, according to a report published on Thursday. The move, the report alleges, led directly to the deportation of his former partner to Brazil.

Amanda Ungaro, a Brazilian national and the mother of Zampolli's teenage son, had been arrested in Miami on workplace fraud charges when the alleged contact was made. With Ungaro in detention, Zampolli allegedly approached immigration authorities and alerted them to her legal status, a decision the report contends effectively removed her from the custody proceedings before she could contest them. Zampolli confirmed he made contact but denied intending to initiate her deportation, while the Department of Homeland Security rejected the claims of political favouritism.

A Custody Dispute and a Miami Arrest

The dispute arose after the couple separated and Ungaro relocated to Florida, where she married a Brazilian doctor. Authorities arrested the couple following a tip about their medical spa, which allegedly offered unlicensed cosmetic procedures. Investigators found the clinic was operating unlawfully, leading to grand theft charges. A sting operation found Ungaro and her husband practising medicine without a licence, with bail for her husband set at $64,500 (approximately £51,600). The report alleges that, with Ungaro in custody, Zampolli moved to engage federal immigration authorities to secure full custody of their son.

Using Federal Connections at Immigration and Customs Enforcement

When Zampolli learnt of Ungaro's arrest, he contacted David Venturella, a senior ICE official, informing him that Ungaro did not hold legal immigration status and asking whether she could be transferred to federal custody. Venturella coordinated with the Miami field office, and the report alleges he made clear the significance of the request, given Zampolli's proximity to the White House. Ungaro was taken into federal custody before she could post bail. Zampolli confirmed the contact but described his motivation as 'curiosity.' 'I asked David what was going on because I did not know the process,' he told reporters.

The Epstein Files and a Two-Decade Political Network

Zampolli is widely known for introducing President Donald Trump to his wife, Melania, and currently works as the US representative for global partnerships. His name appears in the Jeffrey Epstein files — records documenting the disgraced financier's associates and contacts. Ungaro's name is also connected to those records: she first arrived in the United States in 2002 as a 17-year-old model travelling on Epstein's private plane, though she has maintained she never interacted with him again after that journey.

Homeland Security Denies Wrongdoing Before Final Deportation

The Department of Homeland Security denied any political favouritism, stating the claims were 'FALSE' and asserting that protocols had been strictly followed throughout the enforcement process. Zampolli, for his part, denied that his contact with Venturella was intended to initiate Ungaro's removal. Ungaro was nonetheless placed in federal detention and subsequently deported to Brazil, concluding a custody battle in which, the report contends, immigration enforcement was used as a legal instrument by a figure with direct access to the administration.