An 86-year-old French woman who moved to the US last year after rekindling a 1960s romance is being detained at an immigration enforcement centre in Louisiana.
The son of Marie-Thérèse, from the city of Nantes, sounded the alarm 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 outlet Ouest-France.
The US Department of Homeland Security, which oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), stated that an illegal alien from France matching Marie-Thérèse's name had entered the country in June 2025 and overstayed her 90-day visa.
However, her son claims that Marie-Thérèse was awaiting a green card when she was detained.
Marie-Thérèse had relocated to the US after marrying Billy, an American man she met during the 1960s when he was stationed in Saint-Nazaire.
The couple lost touch after he returned to the US in 1966, both marrying and raising children independently. They reconnected in 2010 and eventually began a romantic relationship after both became widowed in 2022.
Following their marriage last year, Marie-Thérèse moved to Alabama, seeking a green card, but her immigration status became precarious when Billy died suddenly in January.
A dispute over Billy's inheritance further complicated matters, resulting in tensions that led to Marie-Thérèse hiring a lawyer. Unfortunately, she was arrested by ICE the day before a scheduled court hearing.
Despite the circumstances, Marie-Thérèse's son expressed hope for her release and highlighted her determination, noting her health issues.
“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, under the administration's mass deportation initiative, has intensified its role in removing undocumented immigrants, with cases like Marie-Thérèse's emphasizing the harsh realities faced by many.
