Trump Ally Turns to ICE to Deport Ex and Gain Custody

• ICE deportation sparks controversy
• Trump ally under scrutiny
• ICE intervenes in case

Businessman Paolo Zampolli, an ally of President Donald Trump, sought assistance from ICE amid a personal conflict tied to the ICE deportation controversy.

According to The New York Times, the goal was to influence a process that could impact custody of his son.

Zampolli is a former modeling agent who currently serves as a presidential special envoy.

The case involves his ex-partner, Amanda Ungaro, who is of Brazilian origin.

Case reveals ICE use in personal dispute

New reports reveal Trump’s friend Paolo Zampolli, who appears several times in the Epstein Files, asked a top ICE official to detain his ex-wife and mother of his kids.

ICE did as Zampolli asked, and she was ultimately deported. pic.twitter.com/kZ6XAs6GUN

— FactPost (@factpostnews) March 20, 2026

Ungaro was being held in a Miami jail on fraud charges related to her workplace.

According to records obtained by the newspaper, Paolo Zampolli contacted a senior ICE official.

In the communication, he explained that his ex-partner was in the country without proper documentation.

The information was also confirmed by a person familiar with the conversations.

The official contacted was David Venturella, according to the cited records.

After receiving the information, Venturella called the ICE office in Miami.

The goal was to ensure that agents would take custody of the woman before she could be released on bail.

During that call, he mentioned that the case was relevant to someone close to the White House.

Detention and deportation of Amanda Ungaro

Paolo Zampolli, a former modeling agent and a longtime Trump ally, was in a custody battle over his son. An ICE official agreed to help.https://t.co/UJ1Tw7ytpE

— Leon Dash (@DashDeCosta) March 21, 2026

Ungaro was taken into ICE custody following that intervention.

She was later deported from the United States.

According to the report, the outcome might have occurred even without Zampolli’s involvement.

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However, the speed of the action has raised questions within the broader ICE deportation controversy.

The case reflects concerns about the use of federal mechanisms for personal matters.

It has also been cited as part of a pattern observed during Trump’s second administration.

This pattern points to possible uses of government power to resolve private conflicts.

Denials and official government stance

In an interview with The New York Times, Paolo Zampolli denied requesting the detention.

He stated that he was only seeking information about what was happening in the case.

He also denied asking ICE for any additional favors.

For its part, the Department of Homeland Security issued a statement.

DHS said Ungaro was detained for overstaying her visa.

It also noted that she faced fraud charges.

The agency rejected claims that the deportation had political or personal motivations.

The statement described such suggestions as false.

The case places the ICE deportation controversy at the center of debate over political influence and immigration decisions.

It also highlights tensions surrounding the use of power in private matters, according to La Jornada.