Nicolle Saroukos, an Australian woman, found herself at the center of a troubling incident while attempting to visit her U.S. Army husband stationed in Hawaii.
Arriving at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Oahu on May 18, Saroukos was excited for her trip, her third to see her husband Matt, a lieutenant in the Army.
However, her arrival quickly turned into a nightmare as Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers flagged her for what they described as ‘dubious behavior.’
According to a senior official from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Saroukos was selected for secondary screening due to ‘recent long-term trips to the United States and suspicious luggage.’
During questioning, officers became suspicious when Saroukos struggled to remember her wedding date, which was only four months prior.
Reports revealed that she met her husband on December 13, 2024, coinciding with the same day her ex-partner left her.
The couple spent a mere eight days together before Saroukos returned to Australia, only to marry Matt on January 24, 2025, after knowing him for just over a month.
Despite having a history of visiting Hawaii without problems, this time Saroukos’s travel raised red flags.
She and her mother, who accompanied her on the flight, were separated, with Saroukos taken to a holding room for further questioning.
During this ordeal, officers examined her bags and phone, leading to questions about her previous work as a police officer and whether her tattoos were linked to gang activity.
Authorities also scrutinized her luggage, concluding she packed too many clothes, which they interpreted as an intention to stay in the U.S. longer than permitted by her visa.
As the situation escalated, DHS collected fingerprints and DNA samples from Saroukos, conducted a body cavity search, and escorted her to the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu.
While Saroukos was detained, her mother was allowed to leave the holding facility.
Compounding the situation, officials discovered unusual activity on Saroukos’s cellphone, which included the deletion of approximately 1,000 text messages from her husband.
DHS officials indicated that Saroukos informed them she deleted the messages due to anxiety, and she also contradicted her husband’s statement about his military service plans.
Her husband, Matt, reportedly waited for several hours at the airport for Saroukos to arrive.
Frustrated by the lack of communication from airport officials, he was finally informed that she was being held at a detention center, yet was not allowed to speak with her or provide support.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Army later confirmed that Saroukos’s husband’s unit was extending their support during this difficult situation.
Ultimately, Saroukos was deported back to Sydney, Australia, while her husband came on leave to visit her.
The DHS reiterated the seriousness of the incident, emphasizing that entering the United States under the wrong pretense comes with consequences.
This incident highlights the complexities and challenges that can arise from international travel, particularly for those visiting loved ones in the military.
image source from：https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2025/05/30/soldiers-wife-deported-to-australia-after-detainment-in-hawaii/
