The World Is Coming: ‘Airport Lawyers’ Is Back

This month, the United States is greeting millions of visitors from across the world for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup. They will arrive at our airports and ports of entry, excited to take part in one of the largest international sporting events ever held.

Most will encounter nothing beyond the thrill of travel and the expectation of the games ahead. Yet, as immigration lawyers are well aware, even the most well-prepared traveler can face unforeseen difficulties at the border.

A visa might be revoked without notice. A traveler could be sent to secondary inspection. A miscommunication about immigration status, past travel history, or paperwork can rapidly turn into a stressful and urgent scenario. In such situations, having access to skilled legal advice can make a real difference.

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That is why I am delighted to announce the reactivation of Airport Lawyers for FIFA World Cup 2026.

Airport Lawyers (www.airportlawyer.org) was first established as a rapid-response tool in January 2017 during the initial travel ban. It was intended to link travelers with seasoned immigration attorneys when pressing legal matters arise at airports, ports of entry, and other travel-related situations. The idea was straightforward: when someone is dealing with an immigration emergency, time is critical.

The necessity for such a resource feels especially significant today.

The immigration environment has grown more complicated. Travelers are facing increased scrutiny, shifting policies, broader vetting procedures, and changing enforcement priorities. Even individuals with valid visas and a clean legal record can find themselves dealing with unforeseen complications.

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Behind the scenes, lawyers have been organizing for some time. Jennifer Li from the Center for Community Health Innovation at Georgetown Law’s O’Neill Institute has been assisting alongside immigration lawyers. Through her direction of the Dignity 2026 coalition, she collaborates with host city community organizations to push for lasting policy solutions that tackle some of the largest risks tied to this summer’s tournament, including immigration enforcement across the United States.

Thanks to the guidance of Li and Adam Boyd, our AILA Washington State Chapter Chair, the original Airport Lawyers team was able to reunite to refresh and update the website.

Airport Lawyers is not a replacement for government procedures, nor does it ensure a specific result. It is solely intended to assist our international guests for a limited period during the FIFA games. It acts as a link, connecting individuals facing urgent immigration challenges with attorneys who can offer advice when it is most needed.

The World Cup also provides an opportunity to highlight something beyond our stadiums and cities. It presents a chance to show that we are a welcoming nation and that we are dedicated to fairness and due process.

The United States has long gained from international exchange, whether through tourism, business, education, sports, or cultural involvement. As we greet visitors from every part of the world, we should also guarantee that they have access to reliable information and legal resources if issues arise.

This project has always been a joint effort, and I am very thankful to my fellow co-founders, Ryan McClead, Principal at Sente Advisors, Attorney Takao Yamada, a private consultant, and Greg McLawsen, Managing Attorney at Sound Immigration, for their vision and dedication. I am equally appreciative of the leadership of Adam Boyd, Chair of AILA Washington State, Jennifer Li of Georgetown Law/Dignity 2026, and the many volunteers and supporters whose steady direction and commitment helped revive this initiative.

The World Cup has always been envisioned as a celebration of international connection. It unites people from different nations, languages, cultures, and backgrounds in a shared experience that goes beyond borders.

As immigration lawyers, we may not be on the field, but we have a significant role to play. We can help ensure that when visitors face unexpected immigration hurdles, they do not have to manage them alone.

The world is arriving. We look forward to greeting it.

Tahmina Watson is the founding attorney of Watson Immigration Law in Seattle, where she practices US immigration law with a focus on business immigration. She has been writing about immigration law since 2008 and has authored numerous articles in various publications. She is the author of Legal Heroes in the Trump Era: Be Inspired. Expand Your Impact. Change the World and The Startup Visa: Key to Job Growth and Economic Prosperity in America. She is also the founder of The Washington Immigrant Defense Network (WIDEN), which funds and facilitates legal representation in immigration court, and co-founder of Airport Lawyers, which provided essential services during the early travel bans. Tahmina is frequently cited in the media and hosts the podcast Tahmina Talks Immigration. She is a Puget Sound Business Journal 2020 Women of Influence honoree. Business Insider recently named her as one of the top immigration attorneys in the U.S. assisting tech startups. You can reach her by email at [email protected], connect with her on LinkedIn, or follow her on Twitter at @tahminawatson.

Topics:

Airport Lawyers

Breaking Government

FIFA

Government

Immigration

Sports

Tahmina Watson

World Cup