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A Southwest Airlines flight attendant is being held by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after authorities say he remained in the United States beyond the expiration of his visa. According to ICE, Lorenzo Thompson, a Jamaican citizen, was taken into custody on July 14th while at Nashville International Airport (BNA). The agency said Thompson entered the United States on April 17, 2021, using a six-month visa that expired on October 16, 2021 and allegedly failed to leave the country after it expired.
Supporters dispute the characterization of his immigration status. A GoFundMe campaign created by a friend says Thompson has a valid work permit and a pending asylum case. They argue that he has been following the legal process to remain in the United States. The fundraiser also states that Thompson has no criminal history and has been working toward becoming a US citizen.
The Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) echoed those claims, saying Thompson was actively pursuing legal status. Meanwhile, TWU Local 556, the union representing more than 21,000 Southwest Airlines flight attendants, confirmed on social media that one of its members had been detained while on the job. ICE did not address Thompson’s reported asylum application or work authorization in its public statement and said Thompson was detained without incident.
The agency also noted that it continues to encourage individuals who are in the country unlawfully to voluntarily depart the United States through its self-deportation program, which offers eligible participants a complimentary flight and financial assistance.
Anthony’s Take: Thompson remains in ICE custody as his immigration case moves through the legal process. The GoFundMe has almost reached its goal and we’ll see how this plays out.
(Image Credits: Southwest Airlines and GoFundMe.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
