Marie-Thérèse Ross-Mahé arrested, detained 16 days, and deported from US
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Apr 25
Marie-Thérèse Ross-Mahé arrested, detained 16 days, and deported from US
5 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Apr 25
Eighty-five-year-old French widow Marie-Thérèse Ross-Mahé was arrested at her Anniston, Alabama home on April 1 and deported after 16 days in US immigration detention.
She described being handcuffed, transported in her pajamas, and chained to other inmates, fearing for her life during detention in Alabama and Louisiana.
A judge found her stepson Tony Ross instigated her arrest amid an inheritance dispute, raising concerns about the use of immigration enforcement in personal conflicts and highlighting the opacity of US detention practices.
After France protested her 'unacceptable' treatment, will U.S. detention standards for foreign nationals change?
How did a family inheritance dispute escalate into an international incident involving an 85-year-old's deportation?
Is an overstayed visa enough to justify chaining an 85-year-old and denying her necessary medical care?
When a veteran’s elderly widow is deported, what does this reveal about the system’s current priorities?
With courts often ruling ICE detentions illegal, why do these enforcement actions continue without consequence?
Can a pending green card protect a veteran's spouse when immigration enforcement is used as a personal weapon?
Weaponizing Immigration Enforcement: The Arrest and Neglect of Marie-Thérèse Ross-Mahé
Overview
In April 2026, Marie-Thérèse Ross-Mahé was abruptly arrested by ICE in Alabama and detained for 16 days without medical care for her chronic conditions. Her arrest was linked to a bitter inheritance dispute after her husband's death, with her stepson Tony Ross, a retired state trooper, allegedly using his government position to orchestrate her detention. The harsh conditions and lack of transparency sparked public outcry and strong diplomatic intervention from France, leading to her release and return home. The case exposed serious flaws in the immigration system, highlighting how personal conflicts can misuse federal power and the urgent need for reforms to protect vulnerable detainees and ensure accountability.