The Francen government has called on the United States to release Marie-Therese Ross, an 86-year-old widow currently held in immigration detention. French officials, including Consul General Rodolphe Sambou, said their government is “fully mobilized” to secure her release, citing concerns over her age and well-being. Ross has been in custody since April 1 at a federal immigration detention center in Louisiana, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which stated she overstayed a 90-day visa.
Ross moved to the United States in 2025 to live with and later marry American military veteran William Ross, whom she had first met decades earlier in France. After both had lost their previous spouses, they reconnected and married in Alabama. William Ross passed away in January, leaving behind an estate that Ross was legally entitled to partially inherit under state law.
However, family disputes soon arose. William Ross’s sons reportedly offered Marie-Therese Ross $10,000 to waive her inheritance rights, which she declined, expressing a desire instead to return to France. Legal tensions escalated when a probate judge, Shirley A. Millwood, issued orders to prevent the removal of estate assets and raised concerns about possible interference by the sons, including allegations that her mail was redirected, causing her to miss an immigration-related appointment.
Further controversy surrounds claims that one of the sons may have had prior knowledge of Ross’s impending detention. Judge Millwood has since called for an investigation into the family’s actions.
Overall, the case combines immigration enforcement, family legal disputes, and international diplomatic pressure, drawing attention to Ross’s situation and prompting calls for her release on humanitarian grounds.
