France Urges US to Release Detained 86-Year-Old Veteran’s Widow

The French government is pressing the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to secure the release of Marie-Therese Ross, an 86-year-old French citizen and widow of a U.S. Military veteran, who is currently being held in immigration custody.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detained Ross in Alabama on April 1, 2026. According to the DHS, the detention occurred after Ross overstayed her 90-day visa. She is currently being held at a federal immigration detention facility located in Louisiana.

Policy Shifts and Mass Deportations

The detention of Ross is part of a broader mass deportation agenda implemented by the Trump administration. This policy has led to the detention of thousands of individuals, including the spouses of U.S. Soldiers and military veterans.

Reporting indicates that spouses of military personnel previously received greater leniency under immigration policies that have since been scrapped during Donald Trump’s second term in office.

Personal Background

Marriage records from Calhoun County show that Marie-Therese Ross married William Ross, a resident of Alabama, in April 2025. William Ross was a former captain in the U.S. Army.

According to a family obituary, William Ross died in January 2026.

Diplomatic Response and Mobilization

Rodolphe Sambou, the Consul General of France in New Orleans, stated that the French government has fully mobilized to advocate for the release of the 86-year-old widow. Sambou has visited Ross in the detention facility twice.

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

Sambou has maintained frequent communication with the family of Marie-Therese Ross as well as French officials located in Paris, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C. These efforts are intended to coordinate her release and ensure she has access to necessary healthcare and sufficient food while in custody.

The French government has formally contacted the DHS regarding the case. However, Sambou declined to provide further comments on the specific legal status of Ross or other details pertaining to her case.