An octogenarian French woman, who had been detained in the United States in early April by immigration police and placed in a detention center, has returned to France. The French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, confirmed her return and expressed satisfaction. Married to an American and detained since her arrest on April 1st, she encountered violent conditions during her apprehension. Originally from Anniston, Alabama, she had traveled to the US to reunite with her American military captain husband whom she had met in 1953 near Saint-Nazaire. The couple, both widowed, got married in 2025.
Concerns were raised about the inheritance dispute between the French woman and her deceased husband’s American family. She was detained in Louisiana from April 1st after entering the US on a tourist visa in June 2025, which had expired seven months later. Her son described her arrest as harsh and urgent measures were taken to bring her back to France due to her health concerns. The French Consulate in New Orleans closely monitored the situation and provided consular protection. They were liaising with the American authorities to resolve the matter.
