Paolo Zampolli, the veteran modeling agent and diplomat credited with introducing President Donald Trump to First Lady Melania Trump, is facing intense scrutiny following allegations that he leveraged high-level government connections to influence an immigration enforcement action against the mother of his child.
According to a report by The New York Times, Zampolli allegedly urged senior officials at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain his ex-girlfriend, Amanda Ungaro, during a contentious custody battle over their teenage son.
Allegations of Influence Peddling
The controversy centers on a phone call Zampolli reportedly made to David Venturella, a high-ranking ICE official and longtime private prison executive. The call occurred after Ungaro, a former Grenadian ambassador to the United Nations, was arrested in Miami on fraud charges.
Documents and sources familiar with the matter indicate that Zampolli informed Venturella of Ungaro’s allegedly precarious immigration status, questioning if she could be transferred to ICE custody. The move was reportedly intended to bolster Zampolli’s position in their ongoing custody dispute.
Key Details of the Alleged Interference:
- The Request: Venturella reportedly contacted ICE’s Miami field office to ensure Ungaro was intercepted by federal agents before her release from local jail.
- The Justification: Sources claim the case was framed to local agents as “important to someone close to the White House.”
- The Outcome: Ungaro was ultimately detained and deported to Brazil.
Zampolli admitted to contacting Venturella but categorized the outreach as a request for information rather than a demand for action. “I asked David what was going on because I did not know the process,” Zampolli told The Times, adding that he could not recall if he invoked his friendship with the President during the conversation.
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White House and DHS Responses
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a firm denial regarding any impropriety. In a statement, the agency asserted that any suggestion of political favors played a role in Ungaro’s removal is “FALSE.”
Similarly, a spokesperson for Melania Trump distanced the First Lady from the controversy.
“The First Lady has no knowledge of, or involvement in, the personal affairs of Mr. Zampolli and Ms. Ungaro,” the statement read, noting that she has had no contact with ICE regarding the matter.
Zampolli remains a visible figure within the administration’s orbit. Despite his limited formal power as a special envoy for global partnerships, he was recently appointed to the Kennedy Center board of trustees and frequently documents his access to senior officials, including Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
A History of Proximity to Power
Zampolli’s ties to the Trump family date back to the 1990s. As a modeling agent, he assisted the Slovenian-born Melania Knauss in securing her U.S. visa and famously introduced her to Donald Trump at New York’s Kit Kat Club in 1998.
His social media activity continues to highlight this proximity. On March 20, 2026, Zampolli posted a birthday tribute to Barron Trump on his 20th birthday, praising Melania Trump’s “true values.” Earlier this week, on March 16, he posted a photo from the Oval Office with the caption “Lunch with the Boss.” The White House has not yet confirmed if a formal meeting took place.
Connections to the Epstein Circle
The report also revisited Zampolli’s past links to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Ungaro originally arrived in the United States in 2002 as a 17-year-old model aboard Epstein’s private aircraft. While Ungaro stated she never saw Epstein again after that flight, Zampolli’s own name appeared in Epstein’s correspondence.
In a 2011 email, Epstein warned a business associate to avoid Zampolli, labeling him “trouble.” Zampolli dismissed the characterization to The Times, stating he was never close to Epstein. Neither Zampolli nor Ungaro has been accused of criminal wrongdoing regarding their past associations with the financier.
The Human Cost
Speaking from Brazil, Ungaro expressed her devastation over the alleged weaponization of federal resources. She claimed that during their relationship, Zampolli used the promise of marriage and a path to citizenship as leverage, only to leave her on a string of temporary visas.
“It’s devastating that they could have affected what happened to me,” Ungaro said.
