This month, the United States is welcoming millions of visitors from around the globe for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, who will arrive at our airports and ports of entry, eager to participate in one of the largest international sporting events in history.
Most will experience nothing more than the excitement of travel and the anticipation of the matches ahead. But as immigration lawyers know all too well, even the most prepared traveler can encounter unexpected challenges at the border.
A visa may be canceled without warning. A traveler may be referred to secondary inspection. A misunderstanding about immigration status, prior travel history, or documentation can quickly escalate into a stressful and time-sensitive situation. In those moments, access to qualified legal counsel can make a meaningful difference.
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That is why I am pleased to announce the reactivation of Airport Lawyers for FIFA World Cup 2026.
Airport Lawyers (www.airportlawyer.org) was originally created as a rapid-response resource in January 2017 during the very first travel ban. It was designed to connect travelers with experienced immigration attorneys when urgent legal issues arise at airports, ports of entry, and other travel-related encounters. The concept was simple: when someone is facing an immigration emergency, time matters.
The need for such a resource feels particularly important today.
The immigration landscape has become increasingly complex. Travelers face heightened scrutiny, evolving policies, expanded vetting procedures, and changing enforcement priorities. Even individuals who possess valid visas and have complied with the law can find themselves navigating unexpected complications.
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Behind the scenes, lawyers have been organizing for quite some time. Jennifer Li of the Center for Community Health Innovation at Georgetown Law’s O’Neill Institute has been helping alongside immigration lawyers. Through her leadership of the Dignity 2026 coalition, she works closely with host city community groups to advocate for durable policy solutions that address some of the biggest risks associated with this summer’s tournament, including immigration enforcement across the United States.
Thanks to the leadership of Li and Adam Boyd, our AILA Washington State Chapter Chair, the original Airport Lawyers team was able to regroup to revive and revamp the website.
Airport Lawyers is not a substitute for government processes, nor does it guarantee a particular outcome. It is only to serve our international guests for a limited time during the FIFA games. It serves as a bridge, connecting people facing urgent immigration challenges with attorneys who can provide guidance when they need it most.
The World Cup also presents an opportunity to showcase something beyond our stadiums and cities. It offers a chance to demonstrate that we are a welcoming country and we are committed to fairness and due process.
The United States has long benefited from international exchange, whether through tourism, business, education, sports, or cultural engagement. As we welcome visitors from every corner of the globe, we should also ensure that they have access to reliable information and legal resources if problems arise.
This project has always been a collaborative effort, and I am deeply grateful 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 commitment. I am equally thankful for 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 guidance and dedication helped bring this initiative back to life.
The World Cup has always been intended as a celebration of international connection. It brings together people of different nations, languages, cultures, and backgrounds in a shared experience that transcends borders.
As immigration lawyers, we may not be on the field, but we have an important role to play. We can help ensure that when visitors encounter unexpected immigration challenges, they are not left to navigate them alone.
The world is coming. We look forward to welcoming it.
Tahmina Watson is the founding attorney of Watson Immigration Law in Seattle, where she practices US immigration law focusing on business immigration. She has been blogging about immigration law since 2008 and has written numerous articles in many 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 the immigration courtroom, and co-founder of Airport Lawyers, which provided critical services during the early travel bans. Tahmina is regularly quoted in the media and is the host of 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. that help tech startups. You can reach her by email at [email protected], connect with her on LinkedIn or follow her on Twitter at @tahminawatson.