On July 14, 2026, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained Jamaican national Lorenzo Thompson, a Southwest Airlines flight attendant, while he was on duty at Nashville International Airport (BNA).
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Thompson legally entered the United States on a temporary visa in April 2021. Federal officials say his authorized stay expired in October 2021 and that he remained in the country beyond that date.
However, Thompson’s attorney, Tremaine Hemans, and his family say his immigration situation is more complicated. They maintain that Thompson filed a timely and valid application for asylum after fleeing what they describe as life-threatening abuse in Jamaica. His legal team says his asylum case remains pending.
Thompson’s attorney also confirmed that he holds an active Employment Authorization Document (EAD), allowing him to legally work in the United States while his immigration proceedings continue. That authorization enabled him to satisfy employment requirements and work as a flight attendant for Southwest Airlines.
Thompson reportedly has no prior criminal history.
Following his detention, he was transferred to an ICE detention facility in Mississippi, where he remains while awaiting immigration court proceedings.
Thompson’s detention has prompted support from his union, colleagues, friends, and members of the wider community.
TWU Local 556, which represents Southwest Airlines flight attendants, issued a public statement supporting Thompson and emphasizing that every union member deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.
Friends have also organized a GoFundMe campaign to help cover his legal expenses. The fundraising effort has raised more than $40,000 as supporters advocate for his case.
Thompson’s legal team and supporters argue that his detention raises broader concerns about the U.S. immigration system, particularly the lengthy processing times and significant backlog facing asylum applicants. They contend that people with pending protection claims and valid authorization to work can spend years navigating the immigration system while waiting for their cases to be resolved.
For Thompson, what began as an ordinary day working aboard Southwest Airlines has become an immigration battle drawing attention far beyond the airport where he was detained.
