For nearly half her life, Amanda Ungaro navigated the upper echelons of New York and Washington society, moving through circles that included the inner sanctum of the Trump family. However, the trajectory of the 41-year-old former model and UN diplomat took a drastic turn last October, when she was expelled from the United States. Her journey from Amanda Ungaro: de compartir veladas con los Trump a ser deportada por el ICE serves as a stark illustration of the current American immigration climate, where personal vendettas and federal policy can collide with devastating speed.
Ungaro’s deportation follows a period of intense volatility since Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, initiating what he termed “the largest deportation operation in history.” According to reports, more than 600,000 immigrants have been removed from the country since the start of this administration’s second term.
The fall was precipitous. After years of attending exclusive gatherings at Mar-a-Lago and the White House, Ungaro spent three and a half months in detention centers, including a harrowing stay in Louisiana, before being flown back to Brazil. She now resides in a penthouse in Rio de Janeiro, separated from her 16-year-old son and her husband, both of whom remain in the United States.
The catalyst for her removal was not a random sweep, but a targeted legal strike. In June, ten police officers raided her home in Aventura, Florida. Ungaro and her husband, a Brazilian physician, were arrested on allegations of fraud related to an aesthetic clinic—charges that stemmed from anonymous tips. Ungaro vehemently denies the accusations, asserting that her immediate deportation prevented her from mounting a proper legal defense in U.S. Courts.
A Weaponized Deportation
At the center of Ungaro’s ordeal is her relationship with Paolo Zampolli, an Italian-American businessman and former owner of ID Models. The two shared a two-decade relationship and a son before splitting in 2023. Since then, their connection has devolved into what Ungaro describes as a “war” over the custody of their teenage son.
The most serious allegation in this dispute is that Zampolli used his political connections to expedite Ungaro’s removal. According to reporting by The New York Times, Zampolli contacted a high-ranking official within Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after Ungaro’s arrest to ensure she remained incarcerated and was swiftly deported, thereby granting him the custody he sought. Zampolli has denied any wrongdoing in these matters.
For Ungaro, the experience of ICE detention was harrowing. After being released from her initial arrest, she was moved to a Miami detention center and eventually to a facility in Louisiana. She describes a windowless pavilion with wet floors and overcrowded conditions, stating she spent her days reading the Bible and volunteering to scrub floors to maintain her sanity. She claims that during her detention, she witnessed elderly women in wheelchairs being handcuffed and others receiving inadequate medical care.
From the ‘Lolita Express’ to the United Nations
Ungaro’s life has long been marked by proximity to power and controversy. Her entry into the high-fashion world began at 13 in Londrina, Brazil, leading her to runways in Italy, Germany, and Japan. However, one specific event from her youth has resurfaced: a flight in 2002 on the “Lolita Express,” the private plane of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Ungaro recalls being 16 at the time and being told by her agent that they were flying with “friends.” On the plane, she observed approximately 30 very young women. She describes a brief introduction to Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, but maintains she never interacted with them further. This detail links her to a wider web of influence that Zampolli also inhabited; Zampolli’s name appears in several Department of Justice documents released regarding the Epstein archive, though he has stated he was not close to the financier.
Later, Ungaro transitioned from modeling to diplomacy. Through Zampolli’s connections, she served as a representative for the island of Grenada at the United Nations. While the role provided her with a diplomatic passport and tax exemptions, it was a position of convenience. She appeared in UN documents representing Grenada in sessions concerning the International Criminal Court and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
The Legal Battle Ahead
Ungaro now faces a fragmented life. While she attempts to rebuild in Rio de Janeiro, her husband remains in Florida, seeking a judicial agreement regarding the fraud charges. Ungaro describes her past with Zampolli as a nightmare of psychological, sexual, and physical abuse, claiming she remained in the relationship for years due to the fact that Zampolli refused to sign the authorization for their son to leave the country.
Zampolli dismisses these claims, characterizing the relationship as a “telenovela” that was toxic for both parties. He points to the high-profile invitations they received to the White House and Mar-a-Lago as evidence against the claims of abuse.
| Period | Status/Role | Key Event |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Model | Flight on Jeffrey Epstein’s private plane |
| 2010s | UN Diplomat | Represented Grenada in international sessions |
| 2020-2022 | Socialite | Frequent guest of the Trump family at Mar-a-Lago |
| June 2025 | Detainee | Arrested in Florida on fraud allegations |
| October 2025 | Deportee | Expelled to Brazil after ICE detention |
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Disclaimer: This article reports on ongoing legal disputes and allegations. The parties involved are entitled to a legal defense, and no final judicial determination has been made regarding the fraud charges or custody disputes.
The next critical phase of this saga will unfold in the courts, as Ungaro’s legal team works to challenge the circumstances of her deportation and fight for the return of her son. The case remains a focal point for those monitoring the intersection of private influence and the aggressive enforcement of U.S. Immigration laws under the current administration.
We invite our readers to share their thoughts on the intersection of political influence and immigration enforcement in the comments below.
