An 86-year-old French woman who moved to the United States to reunite with a long-lost love from her youth is now being held in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Louisiana.
Marie-Thérèse, from Nantes, France, had reconnected with Billy, an American man she first met in the 1960s when he was stationed at a NATO base in Saint-Nazaire. After both lost their spouses, they rekindled their romance, married last year, and she relocated to Alabama to begin a new life with him.
"They handcuffed her hands and feet like she was a dangerous criminal," her son told French media, describing the arrest that took place in Anniston, Alabama earlier this month.
Tragedy struck when Billy died suddenly in January, reportedly leading to a dispute over inheritance with his son. According to family accounts, Billy's son allegedly threatened Marie-Thérèse and cut off her utilities before her arrest.
Marie-Thérèse had been pursuing legal residency through a green card application when ICE agents detained her the day before a scheduled court hearing. Her children were alerted by concerned neighbors.
Her son expressed grave concerns about her health, noting she has 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," he said.
The French foreign ministry has become involved in the case, with consular officials visiting Marie-Thérèse in detention. Her son described the situation as "like a bad American film" and said his mother remains resilient despite the circumstances.
This case emerges amid expanded ICE enforcement activities under the current administration's immigration policies. The agency's role in removing undocumented immigrants has been significantly strengthened in recent years.
Marie-Thérèse's family continues to advocate for her release and return to France while legal proceedings unfold.