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French Government Requests Release of 86-Year-Old National Detained by U.S. Immigration Authorities

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France Seeks Release of 86-Year-Old National Detained by U.S. Immigration

The French government has formally requested the release of an 86-year-old French national, Marie-Therese Ross, who was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Alabama on April 1.

She is currently being held at a federal immigration detention facility in Louisiana. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated the detention was due to an overstay of a 90-day visa.

Key Details of the Case

  • Detainee: Marie-Therese Ross, an 86-year-old French national.
  • Date of Detention: April 1.
  • Location of Detention: Alabama.
  • Current Location: A federal immigration detention facility in Louisiana.
  • Stated Reason for Detention: Overstay of a 90-day visa (per U.S. DHS).
  • Formal Request: The French government has requested her release from U.S. custody.

Background and Personal Circumstances

Public records provide the following background on Marie-Therese Ross:

  • She married Alabama resident William Ross in April of the previous year, according to Calhoun County marriage records.
  • William Ross died in January. A family obituary states he was a former captain in the U.S. Army.

The French government is "fully mobilized" to secure Ross's release, according to the Consul General of France in New Orleans.

French Government's Diplomatic Actions

Rodolphe Sambou, the Consul General of France in New Orleans, is leading consular efforts on the case. He has provided the following details:

  • Sambou has visited Ross at the detention facility twice.
  • He stated he is in frequent communication with Ross's family and with French officials in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, and Paris.
  • The goals of these communications are to coordinate her release and to ensure she has access to food and healthcare.
  • The French government has contacted the U.S. Department of Homeland Security regarding the case.
  • Sambou declined to comment on Ross's specific legal status or other details, citing diplomatic protocol.

Additional Context

  • Several sources note that Ross's case involves the detention of a spouse of a U.S. military veteran. Some reports state that such individuals previously received different treatment under policies that are no longer in effect.
  • A lawyer reported to be representing Ross in a separate legal matter did not respond, or did not immediately respond, to requests for comment from the sources.
  • Ross's family also did not respond to requests for comment from the sources.