French Woman Detained by ICE After Reuniting with Long-Lost Love
An 86-year-old French woman who relocated to the United States last year after rekindling a romance from the 1960s is currently being held at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Louisiana.
The son of Marie-Thérèse, originally from Nantes, France, raised concerns after his mother was arrested in Anniston, Alabama, earlier in April.
"They handcuffed her hands and feet like she was a dangerous criminal," he told French media outlet Ouest-France.
The BBC has contacted the US Department of Homeland Security, which supervises ICE, for comment.
Background of the Relationship
Marie-Thérèse moved to the US following her marriage to Billy, an American man she had met in the 1960s. At that time, Billy was a soldier stationed at the NATO base in Saint-Nazaire, France, and Marie-Thérèse worked as a secretary.
Billy returned to the United States in 1966. The two lost contact, married separately in their respective countries, and each had children.
According to Ouest-France, the couple reconnected in 2010 and visited each other with their spouses. By 2022, both were widowed and began a relationship. Marie-Thérèse's son described Billy as a "charming, adorable man," and said the couple were "in love like teenagers."
They married last year, and Marie-Thérèse relocated to Alabama, where she applied for a green card—a long-term visa that would allow her to remain in the US legally.
Immigration Status and Subsequent Events
Marie-Thérèse had not yet received her green card when Billy died suddenly in January, leaving her immigration status uncertain.
Following Billy's death, a dispute reportedly arose between his son and Marie-Thérèse over the inheritance.
According to Ouest-France, Billy's son "threatened her, intimidated her, and even went so far as to cut off her water, internet, and electricity," her son stated.
Marie-Thérèse retained legal counsel, but was arrested by ICE the day before a scheduled hearing. Neighbors notified her children of the arrest.
There is no evidence that a report from Billy's son led to Marie-Thérèse's detention by ICE.
The French foreign ministry is involved in the case, and Marie-Thérèse has received a consular visit, her son told French media. He added that his mother is a "fighter" and "holding up well," despite having heart and back problems.
"Our priority is to get her out of this detention center and repatriate her to France. Given her health, she won't last a month in such conditions of detention," he said.
ICE's Role and Broader Context
Since the beginning of Donald Trump's second term, ICE has played a central role in implementing the administration's mass deportation policies. The agency's budget and mission have been significantly expanded, making it a key entity in removing undocumented immigrants from the United States.
Marie-Thérèse's son reflected on the situation, saying:
"My story was like a bad American film. Every morning I wake up and tell myself none of it is true, that it was just a nightmare."
