An 86-year-old French woman reunited with her 1950s sweetheart after 60 years – he died in January, and ICE locked her up a week later

Marie-Therese Helene Ross, an 86-year-old French woman, is currently being held at a detention center in Louisiana after being arrested by immigration officials. Her family is pushing to get her back to France, citing serious concerns about her health.

Marie-Therese moved to the United States in April last year to marry her old sweetheart, a former U.S. serviceman named Billy. Their romance began in the 1950s when they met at a NATO military base in Saint-Nazaire, France, and they were separated in 1966 when Billy returned to the U.S. and France withdrew from NATO’s integrated military command structure.

Both went on to marry other people, but reconnected in 2010 through social media. After both their partners passed away, Marie-Therese moved from Brittany to Anniston, Alabama, to rekindle their romance. According to the Independent, her son described them as being “like a couple of teenagers.”

The love story that ended in heartbreak took an even darker turn with an immigration arrest

Sadly, Billy died in January, leaving Marie-Therese in a difficult position. She had not obtained a green card to legally remain in the country. She also reportedly ran into legal trouble with one of Billy’s sons, who allegedly cut off water and electricity to her home. She was due in court on April 1 to resolve this dispute, but things took a very different turn before she could even get there.

A week before that court date, immigration officials detained her. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security confirmed her arrest, stating that Marie-Therese Helene Ross is an “illegal alien from France.” The spokesperson added that she last entered the country in June 2025 under the Visa Waiver Program, which only allows a 90-day stay, but she remained in the United States seven months later.

ICE has faced growing criticism over its recent actions, with many calling out how ICE has been treating detainees and suspects. Marie-Therese is currently being held in a center with around 70 other detainees. Her family has not been receiving consistent updates since her arrest, only getting news after French consular officials managed to visit her.

Her son expressed deep concern about her health, particularly given her reported heart and back problems. For an 86-year-old woman with existing medical conditions, the situation inside a crowded detention facility raises serious questions about her safety and well-being. “For us it’s urgent to get her out of the detention center and bring her back to France,” one of her sons said.

He added, “Given her health, she won’t last a month in such conditions of detention.” He also said, “It’s like a bad scene from an American film. Every morning, I wake saying it can’t be true, that I’ve had a nightmare.” The family’s distress is clear, and they are hoping that French authorities will be able to step in and accelerate the process of bringing her home.

French consular officials have reportedly been in contact with Marie-Therese since her detention, which has been the family’s only reliable source of information about her condition. However, the family says this is not enough, and they want her released and returned to France as quickly as possible. The case has drawn attention in France, where media coverage has put pressure on both French and American authorities to act.

The Department of Homeland Security spokesperson also stated, “We encourage all illegal aliens to take control of their departure with the CBP Home App. The United States is offering illegal aliens $2,600 and a free flight to self-deport now.” He added, If not, you will be arrested and deported without a chance to return.” This case comes amid broader concerns about ICE’s conduct, including past fatal shootings linked to ICE operations that have drawn public scrutiny.