An 86-year-old French widow, Marie-Thérèse Ross, was detained by ICE in Alabama on April 1 after over staying a 90‑day tourist visa, and she was held in a federal immigration facility in Louisiana.

She entered the U.S. on a tourist visa in June 2025 and remained seven months beyond the visa period, leading to detention by ICE, while her husband had died earlier that year.

Her release to France followed sustained advocacy and inquiries from multiple parties, with attention from French authorities and international media.

Her son Hervé described a lack of information about detention conditions and pressed for respect for his mother’s privacy, while confirming she is safe under the care of her family.

The detention is linked, in family statements, to a complicated inheritance dispute over her late husband’s estate.

Media reports note an inheritance dispute and suggest that mail rerouting by the husband’s sons may have contributed to missing a hearing in ill-fated probate proceedings.

The reporting relies on judgments obtained by outlets like Ouest-France, raising questions about the legality or appropriateness of the arrest conditions.

Her release followed advocacy and inquiries from AP, The Times, The Guardian, and other outlets that highlighted concerns about detention conditions and the sequence of events.

Newspapers such as The New York Times and AFP contributed to the coverage, clarifying the legal and policy context surrounding the detention and release.

The case drew attention to detention conditions and possible political and family dynamics, with broad international reporting.

Family members described the ordeal as exhausting and expressed relief that she is back in France.

Her son Hervé and other relatives spoke at a press conference in Orvault, describing the detention as physically restrained and expressing relief at her return.