Widow, 86, back in France after being held by ICE

An 86-year-old French widow, Marie-Thérèse, has returned to France after being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the United States. She had moved to the US in 2023 to marry an American man who passed away in January. Marie-Thérèse was arrested in Anniston, Alabama, earlier in June for overstaying her 90-day visa, which she allegedly entered in June 2023. Upon her arrival at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, she was reported to be in shock and exhausted. The French Foreign Minister confirmed her return, expressing relief.

An 86-year-old French woman, Marie-Thérèse, is currently detained by ICE in Louisiana after moving to the US to marry her 1950s sweetheart, Billy. The couple rekindled their romance after decades apart, and she relocated to Alabama in 2025 following the deaths of their respective spouses. After Billy's death in January 2026, Marie-Thérèse faced a dispute with his son and was arrested by ICE on April 1st due to her unclear immigration status, despite an upcoming court hearing regarding the dispute. Her family fears for her health in the crowded detention center and is working with French consular officials to secure her release and return her to France.

An 86-year-old French woman, Marie-Thérèse, is currently being detained by ICE in Louisiana after moving to Alabama last year to reunite with and marry an American man, Billy, whom she had met in France in the 1960s. The couple reconnected in 2010 after both becoming widowed and married in 2023. Marie-Thérèse relocated to the US and applied for a green card to remain in the country. She was arrested in Anniston, Alabama, earlier in April, prompting her son to express concern about her treatment. The reason for her detention by ICE is not specified in the article.