Native American lacrosse team held up at airport over passport dispute
Created 7/14/2010

A Native American lacrosse team on its way to the Lacrosse World Championship in Manchester, England, was turned away at the airport because their passport documents were from the Iroquois Confederacy. The team was trying to make a flight in time for the first game of the championship on Thursday.

The passports, which are partially handwritten and have no security features, are not deemed suitable for international travel. The Iroquois Confederacy considers itself a sovereign nation. British officials said they would deny the team visas if the United States did not ensure that the team would be allowed back into the U.S.

The U.S. originally gave no such guarantee, as the passports were technically illegal for international travel. The State Department attempted to compromise with the team, offering them expedited American passports, but the team refused, saying that traveling on American passports would be an insult to their heritage, as they consider themselves a separate nation.

That caused Secretary of State Hilary Clinton to personally intervene on Wednesday, allowing the players to travel on a "one-time-only waiver."

The Iroquois invented the game of lacrosse, and their presence as a team at the World Championships is a rare example of international recognition of their national claims.

While its doubtful that most groups will have the same worries as the Iroquois lacrosse team, there's no telling what issues will arise with international travel. Large parties should consider group travel insurance to ensure their trips go off without a hitch. Should troubles like flight cancellations or passport issues arise, the group will have the financial flexibility to change their plans.

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