86-year-old French woman arrested by ICE after moving to the U.S. to reunite with a lost love
Key Takeaways
- An 86-year-old French national, Marie-Thérèse, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Louisiana after being arrested in Anniston, Alabama; she had moved to the U.S. last year after marrying a longtime love.
- She had filed for permanent residence through her husband but had not yet received a green card when he died, leaving her immigration status in limbo.
- It has been reported that she was restrained during arrest and that France’s foreign ministry has intervened; a consular visit reportedly took place.
- The case highlights how elderly, family‑based applicants can become vulnerable to detention when a sponsoring spouse dies before the immigration process completes.
- People in similar situations should seek immediate legal help, contact their consulate, and ask about bond or humanitarian medical accommodations.
Case details
Marie-Thérèse, 86 and originally from Nantes, France, moved to Alabama last year after rekindling a romance from the 1960s and marrying an American man known as Billy. She had reportedly filed for lawful permanent residence through her husband — a common family‑based path to a U.S. green card handled by USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) — but had not yet received the physical green card when Billy died in January. She was arrested in Anniston, Alabama, in early April and is being held in an ICE detention center in Louisiana. It has been reported that she was handcuffed in both hands and feet during the arrest; those details come from family accounts and have not been independently confirmed by DHS (Department of Homeland Security).
Legal context and implications
When a sponsoring spouse dies before the beneficiary obtains permanent residence, the immigration case can become legally complex. USCIS approvals and the issuance of a green card are distinct steps; death of the petitioner can disrupt the usual pathway and may require alternative filings, humanitarian requests, or representation to avoid removal. It has been reported that ICE's enforcement capacity and priorities have expanded under the administration referenced in media accounts, increasing the risk that vulnerable noncitizens — including elderly family‑based applicants — may face detention rather than deferred processing. Detention of medically fragile older adults raises both legal and humanitarian questions about bond, medical care, and expedited consular assistance.
Human impact and next steps
For someone going through the immigration process now, this case is a reminder to track case status closely, keep counsel on retainer, and notify the sponsoring country’s consulate if detained. Families should seek an experienced immigration attorney immediately, request a bond hearing, and explore emergency humanitarian relief (e.g., parole or motions to reopen) — options depend on the exact USCIS/immigration records and whether a Form I-130 was approved. In Marie-Thérèse’s situation, it has been reported that the French foreign ministry intervened and consular staff visited; that intervention could speed repatriation or offer consular guidance, but it does not itself guarantee release.
Source: Original Article