A Jamaican-born flight attendant for Southwest Airlines has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Tennessee, drawing attention from his colleagues, union representatives and supporters who are now seeking legal assistance on his behalf.
Lorenzo Thompson was taken into ICE custody on July 14 at Nashville International Airport while working. According to federal immigration officials, Thompson entered the United States from Jamaica on April 17, 2021, with permission to remain for six months. ICE says his visa expired on October 16, 2021, and that he did not leave the country afterward. He is currently being held while his immigration proceedings continue.
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The circumstances surrounding Thompson’s immigration status, however, have become a point of dispute. While ICE characterizes him as having overstayed his visa, people supporting Thompson say his situation is more complicated. A fundraising campaign established to help cover his legal expenses states that he has a pending asylum case and valid employment authorization. Supporters also say he has no criminal record and came to the United States legally after fleeing what they describe as life-threatening abuse in Jamaica.
The Transport Workers Union Local 556, which represents Southwest flight attendants, confirmed that one of its members had been detained by ICE while at work. The union said it was communicating with Thompson’s family and working to ensure that he receives support during the legal process.
“Every Member deserves to be treated with dignity and respect,” the union said, emphasizing its commitment to supporting Thompson and his family.
The case has generated particular concern among Thompson’s fellow airline employees, given that he had been working as a flight attendant while his immigration case was reportedly unresolved. Colleagues and supporters have questioned how his employment authorization and pending asylum proceedings fit with the government’s characterization of his status. Those questions remain unresolved publicly as his case moves through the immigration system.
The detention also comes amid an intensified immigration enforcement campaign under the Trump administration, with federal authorities increasing efforts to locate and remove people they say are unlawfully present in the United States. ICE has maintained that individuals who remain after their authorized period of stay may face detention and removal proceedings.
For Thompson’s family and supporters, the immediate priority is securing legal representation and determining the next steps in his immigration case. A fundraiser has been established to help meet his legal expenses as he remains in custody.
The incident has also resonated within the Jamaican community in the United States, particularly because Thompson had established a professional career in the aviation industry. His case now illustrates the uncertainty that can arise when employment authorization, asylum applications and immigration status intersect under an increasingly aggressive U.S. enforcement environment.
