French Grandmother, 86, Detained by ICE
French woman ICE detention long-lost love
An 86-year-old French national named Marie-Thérèse is currently being held in a Louisiana immigration detention center after moving to the United States to reunite with a former partner. The woman originally traveled from her hometown of Nantes to marry her long-lost love, an American veteran named Billy whom she first met in the 1960s. Their relationship began when Billy was stationed as a soldier at a NATO base in Saint-Nazaire, France, decades ago.
After reconnecting through the internet, Marie-Thérèse relocated to Alabama and the couple officially married in 2025. However, the dream of their shared retirement was cut short when Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents took the octogenarian into custody at her home on April 1. You can find more details regarding the circumstances of her initial arrival and marriage in our previous report on international marriage visas.
The detention of the elderly grandmother has sparked significant concern regarding her fragile physical condition and mental well-being. Her son has spoken to various news agencies to express his deep fears about the impact of a high-security environment on his mother’s health. He noted that Marie-Thérèse requires regular medical attention and is struggling to cope with the isolation of the detention facility. The family’s legal representatives have argued that detaining a person of such advanced age for a non-violent administrative matter is unnecessary and inhumane.
Despite these pleas, federal authorities have maintained that she is being held in accordance with standard immigration protocols while her legal status is reviewed. The case has drawn widespread attention from both French and American advocacy groups who are calling for her immediate release on humanitarian grounds. For more information on the son’s public appeal for medical clemency, visit our global human rights portal.
The legal battle for Marie-Thérèse continues as her husband and lawyers seek a bond hearing or a stay of deportation. Officials from the French consulate have reportedly been in contact with the family to monitor the situation and ensure she receives proper consular assistance. Critics of the current immigration enforcement strategy argue that this case highlights a lack of discretion when dealing with vulnerable populations.
Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security has not provided a specific timeline for when a decision might be made regarding her residency status. The story has resonated deeply with the public due to the romantic and tragic nature of the couple’s decades-long separation and brief reunion. The ongoing investigation into the detention of senior citizens remains a central focus for civil rights monitors across the southern United States.
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