A Jamaican flight attendant employed by Southwest Airlines has reportedly been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents while on duty in Nashville, Tennessee.
The employee has been identified as Lorenzo Thompson, who was detained on July 14 after returning to his home base at Nashville International Airport following a scheduled work route.
According to Fox News, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Thompson entered the United States legally on April 17, 2021, on a visa that expired on Oct. 16, 2021. DHS alleges that he overstayed his visa and did not leave the country.
Thompson is reportedly seeking U.S. citizenship and will remain in ICE custody while his immigration proceedings continue.
A GoFundMe campaign has since been launched to help cover his legal expenses. The campaign describes Thompson as a Jamaican national who entered the United States legally and has been working toward citizenship.
“Lorenzo came to the United States legally from Jamaica in 2021, seeking safety from life-threatening abuse,” the fundraiser stated. “Since arriving, he has worked tirelessly to build a stable life, following every legal step toward citizenship.”
The campaign also stated that Thompson has no criminal record and has a pending asylum case.
“Despite his documented status and commitment to doing things the right way, Lorenzo was unexpectedly detained by ICE on July 14th after returning back to base from a work trip,” it said.
The circumstances surrounding Thompson’s detention, including where he is being held and the expected timeline of his immigration proceedings, remain unclear.
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