Marie-Thérèse Ross, an 85-year-old French widow, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for 16 days in April 2026 [1], [2].
The case highlights the intersection of personal family disputes and federal immigration enforcement, as the woman was held despite her age and circumstances.
Ross was detained on April 1, 2026 [2], and held at a federal immigration detention facility in Louisiana [3]. She had been living in Alabama after moving to the U.S. the previous year [3]. Her husband died in January 2026 [1].
A judge found that her stepson, a U.S. federal employee, allegedly intervened to have her taken into ICE custody [1], [4]. This action followed a dispute regarding the estate of her late husband [1], [4].
During her time in the facility, Ross recalled the sounds of distress among other detainees. “Children crying, and even babies,” Ross said [5].
She described the kindness of other women in the facility, despite language barriers. “These women, whom I talked to a lot, even though they spoke Spanish and I didn't, they were really very, very kind. I want these women to be released,” Ross said [1].
Ross was released in mid-April 2026 and subsequently returned to France [2]. While most sources list her age as 85 [1], some reports identify her as 86 [6].
““Children crying, and even babies,””
This incident underscores how immigration enforcement mechanisms can be leveraged in private civil disputes, particularly when a family member holds a position within the federal government. It also brings attention to the conditions of ICE detention centers and the presence of minors in federal facilities.
