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Elderly French woman held in Louisiana ICE facility
An 86-year-old French national, Marie-Thérèse, is being detained at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) center in Louisiana after her arrest in Alabama earlier this month.
Reunited romance and sudden loss
Marie-Thérèse, originally from Nantes, moved to the U.S. last year to marry Billy, an American man she first met in the 1960s when he was stationed at a NATO base in Saint-Nazaire. The couple lost touch after Billy returned to the U.S. in 1966, each marrying others and starting families.
They reconnected in 2010 and, after both were widowed by 2022, rekindled their relationship. Described by her son as a couple in love "like teenagers," they married in 2025. Marie-Thérèse applied for a green card to secure her long-term residency but had not yet received it when Billy died suddenly in January.
Dispute over inheritance and arrest
Following Billy's death, Marie-Thérèse became embroiled in a dispute with his son over inheritance. According to French outlet Ouest-France, Billy's son allegedly threatened and intimidated her, even cutting off her water, internet, and electricity. Marie-Thérèse hired a lawyer, but ICE arrested her the day before a scheduled hearing.
Neighbors alerted her children after her detention. There is no evidence that Billy's son reported her to ICE, though her son told Ouest-France the situation felt "like a bad American film."
Health concerns and diplomatic efforts
Marie-Thérèse's son reported that she suffers from heart and back problems and is struggling in detention. "Given her health, she won't last a month in such conditions," he said, adding that their priority is to secure her release and repatriation to France.
The French foreign ministry is involved, and Marie-Thérèse has received a consular visit. Her son described her as a "fighter" who is "holding up well" despite the circumstances.
Broader context of US immigration enforcement
Since the start of Donald Trump's second term, ICE has played a central role in the administration's mass deportation efforts. Its budget and operational scope have expanded significantly, focusing on the removal of undocumented immigrants.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, has not yet responded to requests for comment.
