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Detained or Denied Entry at Phoenix Airport (PHX)? Immigration Help for Travelers Stopped at Sky Harbor International Airport

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)

Phoenix, AZ

The Messersmith Law Firm Immigration Lawyer Services

We make immigration possible

Help for Travelers Detained or Deported at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)

About Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) is the busiest airport in Arizona and a key international gateway for travelers from Mexico, Canada, Central America, and Europe. As international travel through Phoenix grows, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) plays a crucial role in screening passengers at PHX.

PHX processes more than 120,000 passengers per day, including thousands of international arrivals. With this volume, CBP regularly conducts secondary inspections, detains individuals, and issues expedited removal orders under U.S. immigration laws.

Whether you’re traveling on a visitor visa, student visa, work visa, or ESTA, entry is not guaranteed. A single interaction at the airport can result in deportation, visa cancellation, or even a multi-year bar from returning to the U.S.

Common Reasons Travelers Are Stopped at PHX

Travelers may be pulled aside at PHX for many reasons. Some of the most common include:

  • Secondary Inspection for additional questioning about purpose of travel, finances, prior visits, etc.

  • Allegations of misrepresentation (traveling on a tourist visa while intending to work or stay permanently)

  • CBP suspicion of unauthorized work or immigrant intent

  • Prior immigration violations, such as overstays or visa misuse

  • Cancelled or revoked visa due to changed circumstances

  • Expedited removal under INA 235(b)(1)

  • Inadmissibility under INA 212, including 212(a)(6)(C)(i) for fraud or misrepresentation

  • Criminal records or prior deportations

With proper legal representation, travelers may be able to avoid being put on a plane and sent back.

How We Help

We offer legal support before, during, and after airport encounters — for individuals, families, and employers concerned about what might happen or what already has.

A. Proactive Support – Before or During Arrival

We can help reduce the risk of detention or denial by:

  • Advising on documents to carry

  • Preparing you for likely questions and CBP scrutiny

  • Being available by phone during your arrival at PHX

  • In some cases, arranging legal presence at the airport through local counsel

Whether you’re worried about a past visa issue, a pending waiver, or a potential CBP flag, we can guide you before you land.

B. Post-Denial or Deportation Assistance

If you were already denied entry or removed from the U.S. at PHX, we can help with:

  • Reviewing your CBP removal documents or refusal notice (I-867A, I-877, I-296, I-275, I-213, I-860, I-296)

  • Filing a waiver of inadmissibility (I-192, I-601, or I-212)

  • Preparing a new visa application with supporting legal arguments

  • Helping you challenge wrongful findings of fraud

  • Reuniting you with family in the U.S.

Top Notch Immigration Services

You will receive top notch immigration services at The Messersmith Law Firm. We guarantee personalized legal services, a high rate of success, and very reasonable fees. At The Messersmith Law Firm, you will always get more than what you pay for. While the majority of our clients are referred to our law firm, we are open to take new cases if we feel we can help you achieve your goals. We have no doubt that you will refer everyone you know to us once your case is approved! Our goal is to get your case approved in the shortest amount of time possible yet strive to keep our fees reasonable!

Thousands of Approved Cases

Scroll through fifty recent approval notices below or click here to view thousands.

Customer Testimonials

Real Testimonials from Past Clients

Impressed beyond infinity

I liked Peter's calm, honest, and balanced approach to our very difficult immigration problem. He is very organized and responsive. He filed both of our cases with the DOS and USCIS promptly and the process went without a hitch. He is very intelligent and knowledgeable, but your success will also depend on your willingness to provide as much information and detail as possible. Peter will be able to organize it in the most effective way. We've just learned that our case was approved. Hoorah!
ALEX

Green Card through NIW

Went very smoothly. Very fast responses to my inquiries. Always sent me an email when a status would change. Peter sent me a list of items that I needed to submit to him, and after that he took over and managed everything in a timely manner. I never needed a lawyer before, and this was a very easy first experience.
LUKAS

A patient and professional attorney!

Peter is great. I found him online and scheduled an interview with him, letting him review my CV. He gave me very honest suggestions and we decided to work on my extraordinary ability alien worker permanent residence petition, the EB1A. It took me a long time to gather information: recommendation letter, publication, etc. etc. During this time, Peter is very responsive and guided my questions timely. He also finally decided that I had enough evidence and should submit the petition. When I was waiting for the approval, he is still available to answer my questions. My case was submitted in June 2011 and I received my permanent resident card at the end of 2011, which is, according to many of my friends, super fast and smooth. I highly recommend Peter as your immigration lawyer.
Linlin

Excellent legal service

The office of Mr. Peter did a great job preparing and submitting my application for a green card. During my interview, the immigration officer said "your lawyer submitted a well prepared application". The interview could not have been more comfortable. And my application could not have been better prepared. Thanks to Mr. Peter and his assistant Jen's professional work. I definitely recommend this office for all your immigration services and needs.
GEORGE

The Best Lawyer Ever!

Peter is very professional and honest lawyer. Believe me, I have done an extensive research and his name was always coming up. I hired him last year to help me to obtain a green card. He was very quick to response and he explains everything clearly. He even checked my recommendation letters! When I moved, the green card of my wife was sent twice and it was returned. He and Jen handled this issue for no additional fee. Thanks to him and Jen I got my green card in less than 4 moths. He is really good. Trust me. I highly recommend him! I’d give him 10 starts if I could.
Mikhail F

Committed, Insightful, Efficient

This is the best law firm I have had the pleasure of doing business with. They came highly recommended by close friends. I was easily able to convine my company to hire them. While I had very high expectations at the start, I was pleasantly surprised to see Peter and his team surpass all my expectations. Extremely intelligent and committed team, highly effective, efficient and there to stand by you when you need them most. I highly recommend this firm with no reservations.
Samvith