Bethany Vierra, who is originally from Washington state, has been living in Saudi Arabia since 2011 when she moved there to teach at a women's university, the New York Times reports.
The now 31-year-old met her future husband there and they married in Portugal in 2013. They have a four-year-old daughter together.
They got a divorce last year after their relationship broke down and Vierra claimed her husband was emotionally and verbally abusive towards her.
Since the divorce, Vierra's family say she has been stuck there because of Saudi Arabia's strict guardianship system.
The system means Saudi women are often only as free as their male 'guardians' - which can include husbands, fathers or other male relatives - allow them to be.
Women have to receive formal permission from the male guardians to study, get married or even renew their passports.
Vierra is a dual Saudi-American citizen.
Sorry mam, that duel citizen baloney is not recognized here.