'Mum is finally free!' Pensioner detained by ICE in US returns to France

April 17, 2026

An elderly French woman in her eighties was detained by U.S. immigration authorities in Alabama and has since been deported back to France. Marie-Thérèse had relocated to the United States after marrying her long-lost love Billy, an American she first met in the 1960s when they reconnected decades later as widowers. After Billy's sudden death in January, she was left in immigration limbo while awaiting a green card, and was arrested by ICE just before a scheduled legal hearing amid a dispute with Billy's son over inheritance.

Who is affected

Marie-Thérèse, a French woman in her eighties from Nantes
Marie-Thérèse's sons and children in France
Billy (deceased), Marie-Thérèse's American husband who died in January
Billy's son, who was in an inheritance dispute with Marie-Thérèse
The French government and Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security

What action is being taken

ICE is carrying out mass deportation initiatives as part of President Trump's second-term immigration policies
The French government is expressing concerns about ICE detention methods and acts of violence

Why it matters

This case highlights the human consequences of strict immigration enforcement, particularly how vulnerable individuals like elderly widows can become caught in legal limbo when circumstances change unexpectedly. The incident raises concerns about detention practices, including the treatment of detainees and the use of restraints on an elderly woman. It also demonstrates the broader impact of expanded ICE operations under the current administration's deportation initiative, and has created diplomatic tensions between France and the United States regarding acceptable detention standards and treatment of foreign nationals.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC