From Romance to Detention: An 85-Year-Old's Immigration Ordeal

Marie-Thérèse Ross, an 85-year-old French national and widow of a US military veteran, recounted her ordeal after being detained in a Louisiana immigration facility. Her arrest was part of a larger immigration crackdown, leading to 16 days of detention. The experience has profoundly changed her views on US immigration policies.

Ross was initially detained in Alabama for visa overstay, unaware of her legal predicament due to family disputes over her late husband's estate. Her experience in the detention facility highlighted the harsh treatment of immigrants, as she described crying children and condescending guards.

The incident has sparked international criticism, with French officials condemning the US methods. As Ross recovers in France, she reflects on the friendships formed in detention and her new perspective on the US as she continues to advocate for humane treatment of immigrants.

(With inputs from agencies.)