Two young German tourists were recently detained and deported upon arrival in the United States, despite possessing valid travel documents and an onward ticket. The incident, which has garnered significant attention on social media and in German media, occurred in Honolulu, Hawaii, where the travelers had planned to begin a backpacking journey through the islands before continuing to mainland California.
Charlotte Pohl (19) and Maria Lepère (18) had spent several weeks traveling in New Zealand before flying to the U.S. as part of their extended itinerary across multiple countries. In a detailed and now-viral Reddit post, one of the travelers recounted the distressing series of events that unfolded at passport control in Honolulu.
According to the post, the pair had only booked two nights at an Airbnb, similar to their approach in New Zealand, to maintain flexibility in their travel plans. They also had a confirmed onward ticket to Asia, but had not yet reserved domestic flights within the United States. This, along with their freelance work history, drew the attention of immigration officials.
“They started asking why we hadn’t booked more accommodation or domestic flights, what our travel plans were, how we could afford the trip, and especially about work,” the post explained. The travelers disclosed that they occasionally engaged in remote freelance work such as translation and graphic design for clients in Germany and Asia, but emphasized that they had no intention of working in the U.S.
Despite their explanations, the travelers were ultimately deemed “inadmissible” and accused of attempting to work illegally. The Reddit user described the situation as “surreal,” noting that they were handcuffed, had their personal belongings confiscated, and were treated like criminals.
The tourists requested to delay their return flight by a day to continue their itinerary, to which authorities agreed—on the condition that they would be detained overnight. However, the young women were shocked to find themselves taken to a detention facility near the airport.
“It was a real jail,” the user wrote. “Metal doors, locked cells, cold air—and we were subjected to a full strip search.” They were placed in a cell with two other women, one of whom allegedly spoke openly about cartel affiliations, adding to the traumatic nature of the experience.
The following morning, the pair were again searched, then escorted directly onto a flight back to Auckland by immigration officers. Officials returned their passports only as they were being seated, and informed them that future visits to the U.S. would no longer be possible under the Visa Waiver Program.
In hindsight, the traveler advised others to book accommodations in advance—even when backpacking—to avoid raising suspicions. She also warned against mentioning any remote work or freelance engagements to border officials, and suggested logging out of any email accounts that could contain related information.
This case has sparked debate online about the handling of international tourists by U.S. immigration and highlights the potential pitfalls of border screenings, especially for young travelers engaging in flexible, modern travel lifestyles.
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