A Southwest Airlines flight attendant has been arrested by U.S. immigration authorities while reportedly on duty, sparking concern among his supporters and drawing attention to the increasingly strict immigration enforcement in the United States.

Lorenzo Thompson, a Jamaican citizen, was arrested on July 14 in Nashville, Tennessee, according to reports. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said Thompson entered the United States in April 2021 on a visa that expired several months later.

According to the agency, Thompson did not leave the country after his visa expired and remained in the United States.

An ICE spokesperson said Thompson would remain in custody while his immigration proceedings continue. The agency has described the case as an immigration violation involving an alleged visa overstay.

The arrest has drawn a response from the flight attendant’s union and immigration advocates, who have offered a different perspective on Thompson’s circumstances.

ICE says Thompson overstayed his visa

According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Thompson entered the country on April 17, 2021. His visa was reportedly valid until October 16 of the same year.

Officials allege that he remained in the United States after the visa expired and failed to depart.

ICE has also promoted a voluntary self-deportation programme that offers eligible undocumented immigrants financial assistance and transportation to leave the United States.

The agency has urged people who are in the country illegally to use the programme rather than face arrest and deportation proceedings.

Flight attendants’ union responds to arrest

The arrest has also attracted attention from TWU Local 556, the union representing Southwest Airlines flight attendants.

In a statement shared on social media, the union said that every member deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. It also expressed support for Thompson and his family during what it described as a difficult period.

The union’s response highlights the uncertainty surrounding the case as Thompson’s immigration proceedings move forward.

Supporters say he was seeking citizenship

Meanwhile, the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) said Thompson had been working toward obtaining U.S. citizenship.

The organisation described him as a dedicated flight attendant who had positively impacted many people through his work.

An online crowdfunding campaign has also been launched to help cover Thompson’s legal expenses. According to the campaign, Thompson came to the United States from Jamaica while seeking safety from what supporters described as life-threatening abuse.

The campaign further claims that he has no criminal record and was pursuing a legal pathway toward remaining in the country. It also states that he has a pending asylum case.

These claims, however, represent the position of Thompson’s supporters and have not been independently verified in the information available about the case.

What happens next?

Thompson is expected to remain in ICE custody while his immigration proceedings continue. The outcome of those proceedings could determine whether he remains in the United States or is ordered to leave the country.

The case comes amid a broader debate over immigration enforcement in the United States, where federal authorities have increased scrutiny of individuals who violate immigration laws.

For now, the situation remains unresolved. ICE maintains that Thompson overstayed his visa and failed to depart, while his supporters argue that he was attempting to build a life in the United States and pursue a legal route toward citizenship.

As the legal process unfolds, the case is likely to draw further attention from immigration advocates, labour organisations and the wider public.

Donald Trump is facing a potentially uncomfortable disclosure battle in his $10 billion legal fight against the BBC, after a US federal magistrate judge ruled that financial information linked to his businesses can be sought as part of the case.

The decision could give the broadcaster an unusual look into the finances and business interests connected to Trump’s family trust — an outcome that could become one of the most closely watched aspects of the lawsuit.

The ruling came during a discovery hearing and represents a significant development in a case that began with a dispute over how a 2024 BBC documentary presented footage from Trump’s speech on January 6, 2021.

Why Is Trump Being Asked to Reveal Financial Records?

At the heart of the dispute is the question of whether the documentary caused financial or reputational damage to Trump.

Trump’s lawsuit argues that the BBC’s editing of his speech harmed him and his business interests. According to earlier court filings, his legal team claimed the broadcaster’s actions caused “direct harm” to the value of his brand, properties and businesses.

That argument has now become a key point in the discovery battle.

The BBC can argue that if Trump claims his businesses suffered because of the documentary, then financial records may be relevant to determining whether that damage actually occurred.

The broadcaster is reportedly seeking information that could help establish whether Trump’s wealth and business interests grew rather than declined following the documentary’s broadcast.

The Documentary At the Centre of the $10 Billion Battle

The lawsuit stems from the documentary “Trump, A Second Chance,” which featured footage from Trump’s speech delivered before the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.

The controversy centred on an edited sequence that combined separate portions of Trump’s speech. The resulting clip created the impression that Trump had directly urged his supporters to march toward the Capitol and “fight like hell” in a continuous statement.

The BBC later apologised for the editing, acknowledging that the sequence had created a misleading impression. However, the broadcaster has continued to reject Trump’s legal claims and has argued that the lawsuit lacks a valid legal basis.

Trump’s lawsuit seeks billions of dollars in damages, making it an extraordinary legal confrontation between a sitting US president and one of the world’s best-known public broadcasters.

Trump Team Looks for Another Route

The financial disclosure ruling could create a difficult choice for Trump’s lawyers.

According to reports from the hearing, Trump’s legal team is considering amending the lawsuit to narrow the alleged damage to reputational harm rather than claiming that the documentary damaged his businesses.

That strategy could potentially reduce the relevance of extensive financial records to the case.

For now, however, the BBC is able to pursue financial information connected to Trump’s business interests as part of the discovery process. Trump’s lawyers are expected to challenge the decision.

The development also highlights a broader risk that can emerge when a defamation plaintiff places financial damage at the centre of a legal claim: the plaintiff’s own financial records can become relevant evidence.

BBC Also Gets Access to Trump’s Inner Circle

The financial disclosures are not the only significant development.

The court has also allowed the BBC to subpoena members of Trump’s inner circle as it seeks evidence relating to his thoughts and intentions surrounding the January 6 speech.

Those who could face subpoenas reportedly include Donald Trump Jr., Steve Bannon and Stephen Miller, among other people connected to the president.

The BBC’s goal is to gather evidence that could help it defend itself against Trump’s claims and establish what he intended when he delivered the speech at the centre of the dispute.

A Lawsuit That Could Reveal More Than Expected

The case has now developed into an unusual legal battle with consequences extending far beyond the original documentary controversy.

Trump has frequently used litigation to challenge media organisations and reporting he considers damaging. But lawsuits involving alleged financial harm can also force plaintiffs to open their own records to scrutiny.

That is precisely what makes the latest ruling so significant.

The legal fight is no longer only about what the BBC broadcast. It could also involve questions about Trump’s business performance, the value of his brand and the financial interests held through his business structures.

The BBC has previously argued that the lawsuit should be dismissed, including on questions concerning jurisdiction and whether the documentary was actually broadcast or made available in the United States. The broadcaster has maintained that it will defend the case.

For Trump, the latest ruling creates a new legal challenge: while pursuing a $10 billion claim against the BBC, his own financial empire could become part of the evidence examined in court.

And that could make this already high-profile courtroom battle even more consequential.

The case remains ongoing, and the latest ruling does not represent a final decision on whether Trump will ultimately win or lose his claims against the BBC.

A food safety investigation unfolding across the United States has placed Taco Bell at the center of a growing public health concern after shredded iceberg lettuce served at select restaurants was linked to a regional outbreak of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 7,000 Cyclospora cases have either been confirmed or remain under investigation nationwide since May 1. Health officials say confirmed infections are already more than six times higher than those reported during the same period last year, with at least 141 people hospitalized.

The outbreak connected to Taco Bell is believed to be concentrated in the Midwestern United States, where contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms has emerged as the leading suspected source.

Hundreds of Cases Across Four States

The CDC has identified at least 400 confirmed illnesses associated with the regional outbreak spanning Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky. Investigators believe these are the states where the affected Taco Bell restaurants received the contaminated lettuce, although officials have not ruled out the possibility that the produce may have reached additional locations.

Health experts stress that investigations remain active and additional findings could expand the scope of the outbreak.

Michigan Becomes the Epicentre

Among the affected states, Michigan has reported the highest number of illnesses during the ongoing investigation.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has recorded more than 4,300 Cyclospora-related cases while interviewing over 1,000 individuals in an effort to trace the common source of infection.

Officials said lettuce and other salad greens consistently appeared during patient interviews. Although investigators cannot confirm that every reported illness originated from the same exposure, they noted that the unusually sharp rise in infections strongly indicates a single, widespread outbreak.

If confirmed, experts believe this could become the largest Cyclospora outbreak ever documented in the United States.

Taco Bell Removes Lettuce Nationwide

Responding to discussions with public health authorities, Taco Bell announced it has voluntarily removed the potentially affected shredded iceberg lettuce from restaurants in the impacted states.

The fast-food chain also confirmed that the ingredient supplied by the implicated vendor will be indefinitely removed from its nationwide supply chain and replaced with alternative supplies.

The company described the decision as a precautionary measure aimed at protecting customers while the investigation continues.

What Is Cyclospora?

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that infects the digestive system after people consume contaminated food or water.

Unlike many foodborne illnesses, cyclosporiasis is not commonly spread from one person to another. Instead, outbreaks are frequently linked to fresh produce such as leafy greens, herbs, berries, and vegetables that are eaten raw.

People infected with Cyclospora may experience symptoms including:

• Watery diarrhea
• Stomach cramps
• Bloating
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite

Symptoms may persist for several weeks without proper treatment.

Taylor Farms Faces Fresh Scrutiny

The investigation has once again drawn attention to Taylor Farms, one of the largest fresh produce suppliers in the United States.

Although the company has not publicly commented on the latest findings, its products have previously been associated with major food safety investigations, including:

• A 2024 E. coli outbreak linked to slivered onions.
• A 2013 Cyclospora outbreak involving contaminated lettuce.

Authorities have not announced any nationwide food recall, and investigators continue working to determine exactly how widely the affected produce was distributed.

Multiple Investigations Still Underway

Federal and state health agencies say several Cyclospora investigations are currently active across the country. Some involve the large Midwest outbreak, while others relate to isolated state clusters or individual cases that have yet to be connected.

Officials continue tracing supply chains and interviewing patients to determine whether additional restaurants, grocery stores, or distributors may have received contaminated produce.

Consumers who recently ate at Taco Bell restaurants in the affected states and develop persistent gastrointestinal symptoms are advised to seek medical attention promptly.

As investigators gather more evidence, health authorities say further updates are expected in the coming weeks.