I was terrified: a French octogenarian recounts her ordeal after being detained in a migrant center in the United States

Marie-Thérèse Ross, 86 years old, spent more than two weeks in detention because her visa was no longer valid. Back in the Nantes area, she confided in the newspaper “Ouest-France.”

Published on 25/04/2026 at 16:39

Reading time: 2min

“Five police officers to arrest a grandmother.” Marie-Thérèse Ross, 86 years old, spent seventeen days in detention in Louisiana, after being arrested on April 1 by immigration police in the United States. Eight days after her return to France, she spoke about this experience to the newspaper Ouest-France on Saturday, April 25. “I don’t want to be talked about. I want to be the spokesperson for my fellow detainees”, she said, promising to publicize their detention conditions reserved for migrants in the country.

This French woman, who was married to an American in January, was arrested on April 1 at her home in Anniston, Alabama. She recalls being taken from her bed, in a nightgown and robe, with her hands handcuffed and chains on her ankles. She was then placed in a cell occupied by fifteen people – “I was terrified”, she confided. Three days later, she was transferred to a company-run center 700 kilometers away in Louisiana, which houses migrants. “We were chained one to another, around the ankles”, upon arrival at the local airport.

Marie-Thérèse Ross then described a barred cell with 58 detainees, in poor hygiene conditions and constant noise. She mentioned the comfort provided by South American cellmates. “One was arrested while driving her car”, she explained to Ouest-France. “Another in front of her children, at school, who have since been cared for by one of her neighbors.” The octogenarian denounces “arbitrary arrests” and describes the uniform colors – orange for migrants, green for homosexuals, and red for criminals. “All of this reminds me of Nazi times.”

“The land of freedom no longer exists.”

Marie-Thérèse Ross, octogenarian imprisoned in the United States

to the newspaper “Ouest-France”

The octogenarian entered the United States in June 2025 with a tourist visa allowing her to stay “90 days” on American soil, as stated by US authorities. However, she was still in the United States “seven months later.” She accuses her American in-laws of doing everything to kick her out after her husband Billy’s death. She believes she was reported by her stepson, as indicated by the local court’s ruling. Marie-Thérèse now hopes to be regularized to be able to return to the grave of her late husband Billy.

The methods of the American immigration police are not “necessarily in line (…) with those that are in effect and acceptable to us”, said the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, while the French woman was still in detention. However, he clarified that he was speaking in general terms and not referring to this specific case. The minister later expressed his “satisfaction” upon the octogenarian’s return to France.