‘The guards could not speak without yelling’: life as an 85-year-old ICE detainee
Summary
An 85-year-old French woman, Marie-Thérèse Ross-Mahé, was detained by US immigration authorities for overstaying her visa after her husband died and a family dispute caused her to miss an important appointment. She spent time in a Louisiana detention center, where she experienced strict treatment and emotional distress but also moments of kindness from fellow detainees. The French government requested her release, and US officials defended their detention practices.Key Facts
- Marie-Thérèse Ross-Mahé, age 85, was detained in the US for overstaying her 90-day visa.
- Her detention followed missing an immigration appointment due to a family dispute over her late husband’s estate.
- She was held in a Louisiana immigration detention facility with about 58 other women.
- Ross-Mahé described the detention center as clean but said guards often yelled and detainees faced strict rules.
- Other detainees showed her kindness by caring for her during the night and calling her “Grandma.”
- The French government publicly asked for her release and criticized US immigration methods.
- A probate judge called for an investigation into whether her stepson misused his federal position related to her detention.
- The US Department of Homeland Security said Ross-Mahé overstayed her visa and stated detention centers meet national standards.
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