Two German teenagers, Charlotte Pohl, 19, and Maria Lepère, 18, recently faced a harrowing immigration experience at Hawaii’s Honolulu airport, which they describe as ‘humiliating and scary.’
The girls had just graduated from high school and were en route to embark on an around-the-world backpacking trip when their plans took an unexpected turn upon arriving on March 18 from New Zealand.
According to Charlotte and Maria, they were subjected to intense scrutiny by U.S. Customs & Border Patrol (CBP) at passport control.
During the interrogation, they were asked about their travel plans, the details of their stay, and future travel arrangements within the United States.
While they had booked accommodations through an Airbnb for their first two nights, the teens chose not to make further reservations, wishing to keep their travel itinerary flexible.
Although they possessed a confirmed onward flight to Tokyo, Japan, for the next segment of their journey, they had not secured any domestic flights, which raised red flags for immigration officers.
The situation escalated when the girls mentioned that they occasionally took on freelance jobs online.
Despite assuring the agents that they had no clients in the U.S. and only planned to travel, this detail led CBP to suspect they intended to work illegally during their stay.
Consequently, both teenagers were detained and taken to a facility where they were informed they would be deported the next day.
While the girls managed to adjust their travel plans to accommodate the directive to leave the U.S., they faced a distressing night in detention, dressed in green prison uniforms.
In a deleted Reddit post, Charlotte recounted the invasive strip search experience, stating, ‘They made us do a full strip search… It was humiliating and scary.’
The conditions of their detention were equally unsettling, as the girls reported sleeping on moldy mattresses and being cautioned by guards to be wary of expired food.
Reflecting on the ordeal, Maria expressed how surreal it felt, stating, ‘It was all like a fever dream.’
Both girls admitted to being unaware of the potential severity of U.S. immigration enforcement, especially regarding travelers from Germany, saying, ‘We felt so small and powerless.’
Following their release, they had to navigate a complex travel route home that involved flights through Tokyo, Qatar, and Frankfurt.
In response to the incident, U.S. Customs & Border Patrol Assistant Commissioner Hilton Beckham issued a statement asserting that the teenagers’ account was misleading.
Beckham claimed the girls were attempting to enter the U.S. under false pretenses as one traveler used a Visitor visa while the other utilized the Visa Waiver Program, leading to their denial of entry.
He elaborated that the girls had initially indicated they were touring California but later admitted to intentions of working, which directly violated U.S. immigration law pertaining to their respective visas.
Determined to share their experience, Charlotte and Maria hope to raise awareness for other travelers, emphasizing the importance of understanding U.S. immigration laws and their implications.
The frightening experience is not an isolated incident, as many travelers have reported similar issues at U.S. borders, sparking discussions about immigration enforcement practices and their treatment of foreigners.
In a world increasingly connected through travel, Charlotte and Maria’s story serves as a cautionary tale for those seeking to explore beyond their home borders.
image source from：https://people.com/german-teens-detained-hawaii-during-post-graduation-trip-11719907
