Two German teenagers were reportedly detained, strip-searched and deported from Hawaii after arriving without having pre-booked accommodations for their entire trip, highlighting growing concerns over the treatment of foreign tourists by U.S. border officials.
Charlotte Pohl, 19, and Maria Lepere, 18, had planned to travel through Hawaii, California and Costa Rica, according to The Times. Traveling under the U.S. Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), the teens were cleared for visa-free entry, a program commonly used by European travelers.
However, ESTA approval alone does not guarantee admission, as final decisions are made by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers upon arrival.
Upon landing in Honolulu on March 18, the pair raised red flags with border agents due to their lack of pre-booked lodging for the full duration of their five-week stay. Despite explaining their plans to travel flexibly, they were reportedly detained, placed in prison attire and held overnight in a cell before being put on a return flight to Germany.
The girls described the experience as "humiliating," sparking criticism in European media. The incident adds to a growing list of cases involving harsh treatment of tourists by U.S. border officials.
The German Federal Foreign Office issued a reminder that entry under ESTA is not guaranteed, urging travelers to be better prepared.
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