French government seeks release of 86-year-old widow detained by ICE

The French widow of a U.S. military veteran has been held in immigration custody since early April.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 5:35am

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A cinematic painting of an elderly woman sitting alone on a bench in a dimly lit urban setting, the warm sunlight and deep shadows creating a melancholic mood.An elderly immigrant's detention exposes the human toll of aggressive deportation policies.New Orleans Today

The French government is pressing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to release an 86-year-old French widow of a U.S. military veteran who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Alabama on April 1 after overstaying her 90-day visa. Marie-Therese Ross is now being held at a federal immigration detention facility in Louisiana.

Why it matters

The detention of Ross is part of the Trump administration's mass deportation agenda that has targeted the spouses of U.S. soldiers and military veterans who previously received greater leniency under scrapped policies. The French government has 'fully mobilized' to push for her release due to her advanced age.

The details

ICE agents detained Marie-Therese Ross in Alabama on April 1 after she overstayed her 90-day visa. Ross is now being held at a federal immigration detention facility in Louisiana. Ross married Alabama resident William Ross, a former U.S. Army captain, in April 2025. William Ross died in January 2026 according to his family's obituary.

  • Ross was detained by ICE agents on April 1, 2026.
  • Ross married William Ross in April 2025.
  • William Ross died in January 2026.

The players

Marie-Therese Ross

An 86-year-old French widow of a U.S. military veteran who was detained by ICE agents in Alabama on April 1, 2026 after overstaying her 90-day visa.

William Ross

A former captain in the U.S. Army who was married to Marie-Therese Ross. He died in January 2026.

Rodolphe Sambou

The Consul General of France in New Orleans who has visited Marie-Therese Ross in detention twice and is pushing for her release.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

The federal agency that oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which detained Marie-Therese Ross.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency that detained Marie-Therese Ross in Alabama on April 1, 2026 after she overstayed her 90-day visa.

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What they’re saying

“Given her age, we really want her to get out of this situation as soon as possible. We want to get her out of jail.”

— Rodolphe Sambou, Consul General of France in New Orleans

What’s next

The French government has contacted the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to push for Marie-Therese Ross' release from immigration detention. Her lawyer is also working on her case.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between the U.S. government's aggressive deportation policies and the humanitarian concerns over detaining elderly immigrants, even those who are the spouses of U.S. military veterans. It underscores the need for more compassionate immigration policies that consider the unique circumstances of each case.