French woman, 86, is being held in ICE detention in Louisiana after arrest in Alabama
The Facts
- Marie-Thérèse is 86 years old, French, and is being held in an ICE detention center in Louisiana.
- She was arrested in Anniston, Alabama, earlier in April.
- Marie-Thérèse moved to the United States after reconnecting with an American man named Billy whom she had known in the 1960s.
- She and Billy married after reconnecting decades later, and she relocated to Alabama.
- Billy died in January after Marie-Thérèse had moved to the United States.
- Marie-Thérèse had applied for a green card or permanent residency before her detention.
- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security told the BBC that a French national matching her name entered the country in June 2025 and overstayed a 90-day visa.
- Her son said she was handcuffed at the hands and feet during the arrest.
Analytical frames for this storyTap to explore
Context
Why was she in the United States?
Reports say Marie-Thérèse moved to the U.S. after reconnecting with Billy, an American man she had known in the 1960s while he was stationed in France. The two later married, and she relocated to Alabama to live with him Daily Beast,BBC,BBC.
What do officials and her family say about her immigration status?
The Department of Homeland Security told the BBC that a French national matching her name entered the U.S. in June 2025 and overstayed a 90-day visa. Her son, however, says she was waiting for a green card after marrying her American husband BBC,Democratic Undergro…,Democratic Undergro….
What happened before her detention?
Multiple reports say her husband died suddenly in January after she had moved to Alabama. Her arrest in Anniston followed in early April, and she was then transferred to a detention facility in Louisiana Daily Beast,BBC,Newsweek.
View all 35 sources
Independent coverage (35)
mdzLa esposaron de manos y pies como si fuera una criminal": la...
O GloboDetida pelo ICE: família de francesa de 86 anos afirma que i...
Firstpost86-year-old French woman moved to US to marry her long-lost ...
Folha de S.PauloA francesa de 86 anos presa pelo ICE após se mudar para os E...
MyJoyOnline.comFrench woman, 86, held by ICE after moving to US to reunite ...
ObservadorFrancesa de 86 anos mudou-se para os EUA para viver história...
SIC NotíciasAos 86 anos, mudou-se para os EUA para viver com a paixão da...
HuffPostICE Holding 86-Year-Old French Woman Who Moved To Marry Swee...
YahooICE Holding 86-Year-Old French Woman Who Moved To Marry Swee...
NewsweekICE detains 86-year-old French woman after US veteran husban...
UOL notíciasMulher de 86 anos é presa pelo ICE após se mudar aos EUA por...
TimesNow86-Year-Old French Woman Came To US To Rekindle Long Lost Lo...
The InquisitrICE Jails French Woman, 86, Who Moved To US To Marry 1950s S...
Teletica (Canal 7)De historia de amor a detención: el caso de una francesa arr...
BioBioChileFrancesa de 96 años se mudó por amor a EEUU y terminó deteni...
La NacionLa anciana francesa de 86 años arrestada por ICE tras mudars...
Correio da ManhaMulher muda-se para os EUA depois de reatar romance da décad...
TerraA francesa de 86 anos presa pelo ICE após se mudar para os E...
BBCFrancesa de 86 anos é detida pelo ICE após se mudar para os ...
DIÁRIO DO ESTADO | Confira as principais notícias do Brasil e do mundoDetenção de idosa francesa expõe disputa familiar e endurece...
La Nación, Grupo NaciónMujer francesa de 86 años detenida por ICE tras mudarse a Es...
The Financial Express'Handcuffed like a criminal': French woman, Marie-Thérèse, 8...
El ObservadorLa esposaron de manos y pies como si fuera una criminal": la...
The GuardianFrench woman, 86, held by ICE after moving to US to marry 19...
Democratic UndergroundFrench woman, 86, held by ICE after moving to US to reunite ...
EL DEBER"La esposaron de manos y pies como si fuera una criminal": l...
BBC"La esposaron de manos y pies como si fuera una criminal": l...
Daily Mail OnlineFrench woman, 86, is locked up by ICE after moving to US to ...
Notícias ao MinutoFrancesa idosa detida pelo ICE. Mudou-se para EUA para estar...
The Daily BeastICE Detains Woman Who Moved to U.S. to Reunite With Long-Los...
Democratic UndergroundFrench woman, 86, held by ICE after moving to US to reunite ...
Revista SÁBADOFrancesa de 86 anos quis reecontrar um velho amor nos EUA ma...
¡Que Onda Magazine!Elderly French Woman Detained by ICE After Cross-Continental...
BBCFrench woman, 86, held by ICE after moving to US to reunite ...
BBCFrench woman, 86, held by ICE after moving to US to reunite ...
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