Southwest flight attendant detained at Nashville airport
A Southwest flight attendant detained by ICE at Nashville International Airport is Jamaican citizen Lorenzo Thompson, arrested July 14 after allegedly overstaying a tourist visa that expired in October 2021. He remains in custody pending immigration proceedings; his lawyer says he held valid work authorization.
Key Takeaways
- ICE arrested Southwest flight attendant Lorenzo Thompson on July 14 at Nashville International Airport.
- DHS says Thompson, a Jamaican citizen, entered the U.S. on April 17, 2021, on a visa set to expire October 16, 2021, and overstayed.
- His attorney says he had an employment authorization document and no criminal record.
- TWU Local 556 confirmed the detention and is supporting his family and legal team.
- Southwest Airlines had not immediately commented when contacted by major outlets.
What happened to the Southwest flight attendant detained in Nashville?
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed on July 24 that a Southwest Airlines flight attendant is in agency custody after an arrest at Nashville International Airport in Middle Tennessee.
According to ICE, Lorenzo Thompson was arrested 10 days earlier—on July 14—and was cooperative. Officers took him into custody without incident. He will remain in ICE detention pending immigration proceedings, the agency told USA TODAY.
The Department of Homeland Security identified Thompson as a Jamaican national and said the arrest followed an alleged tourist-visa overstay. Coverage of the case also sits alongside other fast-moving stories in our Future Tech & AI Wonders hub.
Why was the Southwest flight attendant detained by federal agents?
DHS said Thompson first entered the United States on April 17, 2021, on a visa set to expire on October 16, 2021. ICE told USA TODAY he arrived lawfully at the Miami Port of Entry with permission to stay for six months.
“Against our nation’s laws, he overstayed his visa and failed to depart,” a DHS spokesperson said, according to ABC News. ICE separately stated that Thompson “never departed and remained in the U.S. illegally for five years in violation of the terms of his lawful admission.”
ICE also used the announcement to promote a self-deportation offer of $2,600 and a free flight, saying people in the country illegally should “take advantage of this offer.”
What has the flight attendant’s lawyer and union said?
Attorney Tremaine Hemans told ABC News her client is in “good spirits” and had “an employment authorization document that allows him to be lawfully employed and travel domestically until a decision is made in his immigration case.”
Hemans said Thompson “has no criminal record and has followed all requirements under his application process.” She argued he represents people “who follow the rules in applying for immigration benefit and are being criminalized in the civil immigration process.”
Transport Workers Union Local 556, which represents Southwest flight attendants, confirmed a member was detained by ICE while at work. The union said it is in contact with the member’s family and attorneys, has set up a fund for legal expenses, and hopes for a swift resolution.
USA TODAY reported it had reached out to Southwest for more information. ABC News said the airline did not immediately comment.