Honolulu, April 21, 2025 – A pair of German teenagers have spoken out about a harrowing ordeal that saw them detained, handcuffed, strip-searched, and deported by U.S. immigration authorities upon arrival in Hawaii for a backpacking holiday. The incident has sparked criticism of U.S. border control practices, particularly under the visa waiver programme that many European travellers rely on.
The two travellers – 19-year-old Charlotte Pohl and her 18-year-old friend Maria Lepère – arrived in Honolulu from Auckland, New Zealand, expecting to spend a few weeks exploring the islands before heading to California and Costa Rica. But what was intended to be a carefree adventure quickly turned into a nightmare.
A Backpacker’s Itinerary Raises Suspicion
According to details shared in a now-viral Reddit post and verified by media reports, the teenagers had booked just two nights of accommodation in Honolulu – a standard practice among budget-conscious backpackers who prefer flexibility. However, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers flagged this as suspicious.
During questioning, the girls reportedly mentioned that they had done some remote freelance work – including translation and design – for clients in Germany and Asia. While they clarified that they had no intention of working while in the U.S., officers interpreted this as a possible breach of visa terms, suspecting that they might attempt to work illegally while travelling.
“They told us we weren’t allowed to enter because we had the wrong visa,” Pohl later said. “We didn’t even know we had done anything wrong. We just wanted to travel.”
Detention, Strip Searches, and Deportation
What followed was a sequence of events that many observers have described as disproportionate. The teenagers allege they were handcuffed, had their phones and passports confiscated, and were transported to the Federal Detention Center near Honolulu Airport. There, they were held overnight in a shared cell and subjected to strip searches—a deeply traumatic experience for two young travellers.
The next day, they were escorted by immigration officers onto a flight bound for Tokyo, their return destination arranged by authorities. They were also banned from using the U.S. visa waiver programme (ESTA) in the future—a decision that effectively bars them from returning to the United States without a full visa application process.
International Outrage and Legal Questions
The incident has provoked a wave of backlash from travel communities and human rights advocates. Critics argue that CBP’s handling of the case reflects an overly aggressive and punitive approach to border enforcement, particularly when dealing with young, first-time travellers with no criminal history or ill intent.
“This is a gross overreaction,” said a spokesperson for an international civil liberties organisation. “At most, a warning and secondary screening would have sufficed. To treat teenagers like criminals over a misunderstanding is indefensible.”
The German Foreign Office acknowledged the situation, reminding travellers that even with a valid ESTA approval, entry to the U.S. remains at the discretion of border officials. The agency stated that it is offering support to the affected individuals and closely monitoring cases of mistreatment at U.S. borders.
Travel Experts Warn of Broader Implications
This case highlights growing ambiguity around remote work and freelance activity in the digital age. Many young people fund their travel through freelance gigs, and the lack of clarity in visa guidelines may leave travellers vulnerable to detention or deportation.
“Mentioning that you work online—even if you’re not working in the U.S.—can now be used as grounds for inadmissibility,” said a senior travel advisor. “Travellers need to be extremely careful about what they disclose, even if they’re being honest.”
The incident also raises questions about how backpacking culture is treated by immigration systems, which are often built around more traditional travel models. Flexible itineraries, minimal pre-bookings, and longer trips are not uncommon among young European or Asian travellers but may be misinterpreted under rigid visa evaluation frameworks.
A Chilling Message to Global Tourists?
With the United States continuing to maintain strict entry policies, especially under the backdrop of heightened scrutiny around immigration and overstays, the message to global tourists appears increasingly cautionary. For backpackers and remote workers, especially those from countries participating in the visa waiver programme, this incident could become a case study in the risks of poorly defined immigration protocols and discretionary enforcement.
As international travel rebounds post-pandemic, stories like that of Charlotte and Maria may influence how the U.S. is perceived among young, mobile travellers—those seeking exploration, not confrontation.
For now, their experience remains a sobering reminder: even with an ESTA, a ticket, and good intentions, entry is not guaranteed—and the consequences of a misstep can be extreme.
