With Trump's travel ban still in flux, these lawyers created a brilliant way to help -Zia Bella Blair 7th

When President Trump passed an executive order temporarily banning travelers from "terror-prone" countries, Seattle attorney Takao Yamada hurried to the airport. He was one of the first lawyers on the scene to lend a helping hand to innocent people who might be affected by the order. "It was chaos," Yamada says. Families waiting on loved ones, panicked. Not knowing if they were stuck in extensive interviews, being sent home, or worse. No one knew what exactly the order meant or how it was being enforced. All the disorder made it hard to really help anyone, Yamada says. Without knowing who was coming into the country, where they were coming from, and which kinds of papers they had, well-meaning attorneys were left scrambling.Yamada got together with some fellow attorneys and had an idea: What if there was a way for us to get all of that information ahead of time? Any good lawyer knows they're a lot more effective with the proper preparation. Yamada along with co-founders Greg McLawsen and Tahminda Watson, worked with some software developers to (quickly) create an app. The app "Airport Lawyer" connects travelers coming into the U.S. with volunteer attorneys who can help them navigate U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Using a nationwide network of thousands of volunteers — Yamada said there are hundreds of attorneys in Seattle alone willing to help, free of charge — travelers from abroad can arrange to have a lawyer meet them at the airport when they land. Sometimes, the lawyers will be prepared with extra papers and documentation to avoid any holdups at Customs and Border Protection. Other times, they'll simply be a calm, informed presence that can keep tabs on the process and communicate with U.S. family members. Though a federal court temporarily struck down Donald Trump's travel ban, the administration is fighting back. Yamada expects more confusion and chaos as the chips continue to fall. I think this is so cool that good people are working hard to make a situation manageable. I think this will benefit many innocent people who need help.