Two German Tourists Experience Deportation in the US

Two German tourists were detained and subsequently deported after arriving in the United States from New Zealand, despite possessing valid documentation. This incident occurred when the tourists began their backpacking journey in the States last month.

Details of the Incident

The tourists, identified as Charlotte Pohl and Maria Lepère, had spent several weeks in New Zealand before their planned journey to Hawaii, as reported by German media. One of the tourists shared their experience on Reddit, detailing the challenges they faced upon arrival.

Initial Plans and Unexpected Questions

The tourists, aged 19 and 18, arrived in Honolulu from New Zealand with intentions to explore the islands before heading to the mainland to visit California. They had arranged for only two nights at an Airbnb in the US to maintain flexibility in their travel plans. One of the tourists mentioned having an onward ticket to Asia but had not made domestic flight reservations within the US for the same reason.

When they arrived at passport control, authorities pulled them aside for additional questioning. This initial interaction seemed harmless, but soon escalated into a distressing situation. The officials probed them about their lack of bookings for more nights or domestic flights, their travel plans, financial means, and especially their work.

Misunderstanding and Detention

The tourist explained that she and her best friend occasionally engage in freelance work like translation or design for clients in Germany and Asia, but not in the US. The passport control officials, however, claimed they were “inadmissible” and suggested that the two were attempting to engage in illegal work. The tourists felt as if they were being treated like criminals.

Despite having onward tickets and merely wishing to travel, they were stripped of their phones and passports and placed in handcuffs. The tourist described the experience as surreal, feeling like a criminal instead of a visitor.

Detention Centre Experience

Initially, the authorities intended to send them back to Auckland on the next available flight. However, the tourists requested a rebooking for the following day to adhere to their original itinerary. The officials consented but informed them that they would be detained for the night. This led to a shocking experience when they were taken to a detention centre near the airport in Honolulu. The environment resembled a jail, complete with metal doors, locked cells, and cold air. They were subjected to a full strip search, which added to their distress.

The tourists found themselves alone with a female officer in the cell, an experience they never expected while travelling. The entire situation felt akin to a horror movie, particularly when they were housed overnight with two other women who spoke about their cartel affiliations.

Forced Departure from the US

The next day, after being stripped down again, the tourists were swiftly taken to their flight. Two officers returned their passports and escorted them to their seats just before takeoff. They were also informed that in the event they wished to visit the US again, they could no longer use the visa-free entry system.

In light of their traumatic experience, the tourists advised fellow travellers to book all accommodation in advance while backpacking in the US, as many places provide full refunds for changes. They also cautioned against discussing remote work or freelancing and recommended logging out of any email accounts that might suggest such activities.