An 86-year-old French woman, who relocated to the United States last year to reunite with a romance from the 1960s, is currently being held at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Louisiana. Her son raised the alarm after Marie-Thérèse, originally from Nantes, was arrested in Anniston, Alabama, earlier in April.
“They handcuffed her, both hands and feet, as if she were a dangerous criminal,” her son recounted to the French outlet Ouest-France. His mother had made the move to the U.S. following her marriage to a man named Billy, an American she had first met in the 1960s. At that time, he was a soldier stationed at the NATO base in Saint-Nazaire, while she worked as a secretary.
A Decades-Long Separation and Rekindled Romance
Billy returned to the United States in 1966, and contact was lost between him and Marie-Thérèse. Both went on to marry and have children in their respective countries. According to Ouest-France, the two reconnected in 2010 and maintained contact through visits, even with their spouses present.
By 2022, both individuals were widowed. They then commenced a romantic relationship. Marie-Thérèse’s son described Billy as a “charming, adorable man,” and stated that the couple was deeply in love, describing their connection as being “like teenagers.” They married last year, prompting Marie-Thérèse to relocate to Alabama. She subsequently applied for a green card, which would have granted her the right to reside in the U.S. long-term.
Sudden Death and Subsequent Dispute
Tragically, Billy passed away suddenly in January. Following his death, reports indicate that his son and Marie-Thérèse became embroiled in a dispute concerning his estate. Ouest-France reported that Billy’s son allegedly threatened and intimidated Marie-Thérèse, even going so far as to cut off her access to water, internet, and electricity, according to her son.
Marie-Thérèse had secured legal representation, but was taken into ICE custody the day before a scheduled court hearing. Concerned neighbors alerted her children. There is no definitive proof that a report filed by Billy’s son directly led to his stepmother’s detention at the ICE center.
Involvement of French Authorities and Health Concerns
The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs is now involved in the case. Marie-Thérèse had received a consular visit, her son informed French media outlets. He characterized his mother as a “fighter” who was “holding up well” despite suffering from heart and back problems. “Our priority is to get her out of this detention center and repatriate her to France,” he stated. “Given her health, she won’t last a month in such conditions of detention.”
The narrative of ICE’s expanded role in immigration enforcement has been a significant aspect of U.S. policy, particularly since the start of Donald Trump’s second term. ICE’s budget and operational mandate have seen considerable growth, positioning it as a central agency in the removal of undocumented immigrants from the United States.
Marie-Thérèse’s son expressed that his mother’s situation felt like a “bad American film.” He conveyed his daily disbelief, stating, “Every morning I wake up and tell myself none of it is true, that it was just a nightmare.”
The BBC has contacted the U.S. Department of Homeland Security seeking comment on this matter.