ICE Detains 85-Year-Old French Widow in Inheritance Fight

TL;DR

ICE detained 85-year-old French widow Marie-Thérèse Ross-Mahé in Alabama amid an inheritance fight after her U.S. veteran husband's death.
A probate judge ruled that her stepson, a retired state trooper with courthouse ties, likely used his position to trigger the arrest.
The case raises questions about abuse of law enforcement influence in family disputes and the widow's health in distant detention.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/16/us/ice-detention-alabama-french-woman.html)

The story at a glance

Immigration agents arrested Marie-Thérèse Ross-Mahé, an 85-year-old French widow, at her late husband Bill Ross's home in Anniston, Alabama, while she wore her nightgown. This followed Bill Ross's death in January 2026, sparking an inheritance battle with his two sons, including Tony Ross, a retired state trooper now at a local federal courthouse. Calhoun County Probate Judge Shirley A. Millwood ruled the arrest stemmed from Tony Ross's influence and called for a federal probe; the story broke now due to the judge's recent order.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/16/us/ice-detention-alabama-french-woman.html)

Key points

Marie-Thérèse Ross-Mahé, widowed in France, reconnected with Bill Ross—a U.S. serviceman she met decades ago—married him last year after moving to Alabama, both in their 80s.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/16/us/ice-detention-alabama-french-woman.html)
Bill Ross died in January 2026, leaving a contested estate that includes his home; his sons challenged her claim, leading to probate court involvement.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/16/us/ice-detention-alabama-french-woman.html)
In early April 2026, ICE arrested her at the home and transferred her to a detention center in Louisiana, over 400 miles away; her three adult children in France cannot reach her and worry about her health.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/16/us/ice-detention-alabama-french-woman.html)
Judge Millwood, a Republican elected in 2024, appointed an independent estate administrator, ordered the sons to return house keys, and stated Tony Ross "had used his position as a government employee to have Ms. Ross-Mahé arrested."[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/16/us/ice-detention-alabama-french-woman.html)
The judge urged a federal investigation, citing "distrust of federal law enforcement officers and the many investigations ongoing of corruption within our government."[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/16/us/ice-detention-alabama-french-woman.html)

Key quotes

Judge Shirley A. Millwood's ruling: "had used his position as a government employee to have Ms. Ross-Mahé arrested."[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/16/us/ice-detention-alabama-french-woman.html)

Judge Millwood: urged investigation "especially in light of the ongoing national events surrounding the distrust of federal law enforcement officers and the many investigations ongoing of corruption within our government."[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/16/us/ice-detention-alabama-french-woman.html)

Details and context

Marie-Thérèse Ross-Mahé first met Bill Ross in the 1960s when she was a secretary and he was stationed in France; they lost touch but rekindled their romance after both became widows.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/16/us/ice-detention-alabama-french-woman.html) She relocated from France to his home in Anniston, a small city in northeast Alabama, and they married last year.

The probate ruling highlights local tensions: Tony Ross works at the federal courthouse in Anniston, raising questions about how an inheritance dispute led to federal immigration action against a recent lawful resident.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/16/us/ice-detention-alabama-french-woman.html) ICE has not commented publicly on her visa status or the arrest timing.

Why it matters

The case spotlights how family inheritance fights can draw in federal immigration enforcement, potentially through insider influence, amid broader scrutiny of government corruption. For elderly immigrants and blended families, it underscores risks in estate disputes where U.S. relatives hold law enforcement ties, complicating access to detained loved ones. Watch for any federal response to the judge's probe call or updates on Ms. Ross-Mahé's release and health, though outcomes remain uncertain.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/16/us/ice-detention-alabama-french-woman.html)