86-Year-Old French Woman Detained In US After Moving To Rekindle Decades-Old Romance

86-Year-Old French Woman Detained in US After Moving to Rekindle Decades-Old Romance An 86-year-old French woman who relocated to the United States after rekindling a decades-old romance has been detained at an immigration enforcement centre in Louisiana, sparking concern among her family over her health and treatment. The woman, identified as Marie-Thérèse, was arrested earlier this month in Alabama and later transferred to a detention facility operated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Louisiana. Her detention followed allegations that she overstayed her visa after entering the United States in 2025 under the Visa Waiver Program, which allows a stay of up to 90 days. According to family members, the elderly woman had moved to the US to reunite with an American man she first fell in love with in the 1960s. The pair later reconnected decades after losing touch and eventually married, prompting her relocation. Her son, who raised the alarm over the case, described the arrest as distressing, claiming she was “handcuffed like a dangerous criminal” despite her age and fragile health. Family members have expressed fears about her wellbeing, noting that she suffers from health conditions and may not be able to endure prolonged detention in what they describe as difficult conditions. Officials from the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, confirmed her detention, stating that she had remained in the country beyond the permitted duration of her visa. Marie-Thérèse reportedly met her partner in the 1960s when he was stationed at a NATO base in France. The two lost contact for decades before reconnecting later in life and deciding to continue their relationship in the United States. Her case comes amid broader immigration enforcement efforts in the United States, where authorities have intensified actions against individuals who overstay visas or lack legal residency status. The case has drawn international attention due to the woman’s age and humanitarian concerns, highlighting ongoing debates over immigration enforcement practices in the United States, particularly in cases involving elderly or vulnerable .