ICE Detains 86-Year-Old French Woman After US Veteran Husband Dies

Marie-Thérèse was reportedly handcuffed and held in a Louisiana detention center after her U.S. Army veteran husband passed away.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 8:57pm

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A close-up painting of an elderly woman's weathered hands bound together with handcuffs, the light casting dramatic shadows across the scene, conveying a sense of vulnerability and injustice.The detention of an 86-year-old French widow with ties to the U.S. military exposes the human toll of aggressive immigration enforcement policies.Anniston Today

An 86-year-old French woman named Marie-Thérèse was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Anniston, Alabama, and held in a Louisiana detention center after her U.S. veteran husband died in January. Her family says she was handcuffed at the wrists and ankles and placed in a crowded facility, prompting concerns from her family and involvement by French consular officials.

Why it matters

Since the start of President Trump's second term in 2025, ICE's budget and mission have expanded as the agency took a central role in a mass deportation initiative. The focus on detention and deportation has drawn criticism from residents and lawmakers across the country, with some cases involving people with ties to U.S. service members.

The details

Marie-Thérèse moved from Brittany, France, to the United States in 2025 after reconnecting with her former 1950s sweetheart 'Billy', a retired U.S. Army colonel and helicopter pilot. After Billy's death in January, a dispute arose with one of his sons over inheritance issues, and the son allegedly cut utilities to her home. The Department of Homeland Security told the BBC that an 'illegal alien from France' matching her name entered the U.S. in June 2025 on a 90-day authorization and overstayed.

  • Marie-Thérèse was arrested by ICE on or about April 1, 2026.
  • Her husband Billy, a retired U.S. Army colonel, died in January 2026.

The players

Marie-Thérèse

An 86-year-old French woman who moved to the U.S. to marry her 1950s sweetheart, a U.S. Army veteran.

Billy

Marie-Thérèse's late husband, a retired U.S. Army colonel and helicopter pilot.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

The U.S. federal department that oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

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What they’re saying

“They handcuffed her hands and feet like she was a dangerous criminal. Our priority is to get her out of this detention center and repatriate her to France. Given her health, she won't last a month in such conditions of detention.”

— Marie-Thérèse's son

What’s next

The French Foreign Ministry has become involved and conducted a consular visit. It is unclear when or if ICE would release Marie-Thérèse or pursue removal proceedings. Her family is seeking her release on humanitarian grounds and potential repatriation to France.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions over the Trump administration's expanded immigration enforcement efforts, which have drawn criticism for detaining vulnerable individuals like the elderly spouse of a U.S. service member. It raises concerns about due process and the treatment of military families.