Nationwide — Lorenzo Thompson, a Jamaican flight attendant with Southwest Airlines, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents while working at Nashville International Airport. ICE took him into custody over allegations that he overstayed his visa after entering the United States in 2021 and did not leave when it expired.
Thompson, a Jamaican national, was returning to his home base on July 14 after completing a scheduled flight route when ICE agents detained him at the airport. The arrest happened while he was reporting for work as a Southwest Airlines crew member, according to Fox 5 NY.
The Department of Homeland Security said Thompson entered the United States on April 17, 2021, with a visa that expired on Oct. 16, 2021. Officials said he remained in the country after his visa expiration date and failed to depart as required.
Thompson remains in ICE custody while his immigration case moves through the legal process. Authorities have not released information about where he is being held or when his proceedings are expected to be completed.
Southwest Airlines has not commented on Thompson’s detention. His union, TWU Local 556, which represents Southwest flight attendants, said it is supporting him and reviewing the circumstances surrounding his case.
“Every member deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, and we are committed to ensuring this member and their family know they are not alone during this difficult time,” TWU Local 556 said in a statement shared online. The union also said it is providing legal assistance to Thompson.
Other labor organizations, including the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), have joined efforts to support Thompson and his family. LCLAA said Thompson has no criminal record and was pursuing a legal path toward citizenship.
“Our role is to support one of our union brothers while respecting the legal process,” Edward Marq, a Southwest flight attendant, TWU Local 556 union leader, and LCLAA member, said. “All we are asking for is transparency and due process.”
TWU Local 556 said it will continue following Thompson’s case as his attorneys handle his immigration proceedings. Friends and fellow flight attendants have also created a GoFundMe campaign to help with his legal fees. It has so far raised over $48,000.