86-year-old French woman detained by ICE after moving to US for long-lost romance
86-year-old French woman detained by ICE after moving to US for long-lost romance
An 86-year-old French woman detained in Louisiana after moving to the U.S. to rekindle a decades-old romance; her family pleads for help and repatriation.
An 86-year-old French woman who moved to the United States to rekindle a decades-long romance has been detained by immigration authorities in Louisiana, her family says. Identified as Marie-Therese Helene Ross, she reportedly arrived last year to marry an old sweetheart from the 1950s and is now being held at a crowded detention center. The family has expressed deep concern for her health and welfare, urging authorities to consider repatriating her to France.
Her son told reporters that neither he nor his siblings had received updates for about a week following her arrest, and they only learned of her status after a visit from French consular officials. The family described the situation as a nightmare, stressing that their mother’s frail health makes it urgent to secure her release and return home.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said Marie-Therese Ross, described as an illegal alien from France, last entered the United States in June 2025 under the Visa Waiver Program, which allowed a 90-day stay. The statement added that seven months later she remains in the country. It also encouraged those here illegally to use the CBP Home App to depart and referenced an offer of $2,600 and a free flight to self-deport, warning that failure to comply could lead to arrest and deportation.
Advocates and family members are calling for a compassionate, legally guided review of the case, arguing for the elderly woman’s health and dignity to be prioritized and for a safe return to France if possible. The development highlights ongoing debates around immigration enforcement and the treatment of older migrants in detention.
