Nightmare Vacation: From Honolulu to Holding Cell

Charlotte Pohl, 19, and Maria Lepere, 18, arrived in Honolulu, Hawaii, on March 18, with dreams of a five-week island adventure, followed by trips to California and Costa Rica. Though, their loosely planned itinerary quickly turned into a harsh reality when U.S.Customs and Border Protection (CBP) deemed their travel arrangements “suspicious” [[2]].

Despite having obtained ESTAs, the teens’ lack of fully booked accommodations for their Hawaiian stay raised a red flag for CBP officials [[2]]. According to Pohl, They found it suspicious that we hadn’t fully booked our accommodations for the entire five weeks in Hawaii. [[2]]

Detention and Deportation: A Grueling experience

The situation escalated rapidly after the teens where questioned for hours at Honolulu Airport. They reported being subjected to full-body scans and strip searches before being placed in a holding cell [[2]].

• Prison Uniforms: The teens were given green prison uniforms.
• Holding Cell: They were placed in a cell with long-term detainees,some accused of serious crimes.
• unsanitary Conditions: They allegedly slept on thin, moldy mattresses and were warned about expired food.

The following morning, Pohl and Lepere were deported. They requested to be sent to Japan [[2]].

Official Response and Travel Advisory

The german Foreign Office acknowledged the incident, stating it was providing consular support to Pohl and Lepere [[2]]. The office emphasized that an ESTA does not guarantee entry into the U.S., as the final decision rests with CBP agents [[2]].

This incident comes amid concerns about a decline in European travelers visiting the U.S.[[2]]. Germany’s Foreign Office adjusted its travel advisory after reports of other German citizens being detained by immigration authorities upon entering the U.S. [[1]]

I would say that if you’re not coming to the United States to join a Hamas protest or to come here and tell us about how right hamas is or to tell us about – stir up conflict on our campuses and create riots in our street and vandalize our universities, then you have nothing to worry about.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio

Secretary of State Marco Rubio made the above statement earlier this month [[2]].

Similar Cases: A Growing Trend?

Pohl and Lepere’s experience is not isolated. In March, Canadian actress Jasmine Mooney was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the southern border while seeking a work visa [[2]].

Mooney, 35, reported being held for 12 days in what she described as “inhumane” conditions after being apprehended at the San Ysidro border crossing between Mexico and San diego on March 3 [[2]].

I was put in a cell, and I had to sleep on a mat with no blanket, no pillow, with an aluminum foil wrapped over my body like a dead body for two and a half days.

Jasmine Mooney, Canadian Actress

Mooney, co-founder of Holy! Water, sought the visa based on her lawyer’s advice, armed with a new job offer and necessary paperwork [[2]].

FAQ: Traveling to the U.S. – What You Need to Know

What is an ESTA?

An Electronic System for Travel authorization that allows citizens of certain countries to visit the U.S. for tourism or business for up to 90 days without a visa [[3]].

Does an ESTA guarantee entry into the U.S.?

No, the final decision rests with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents [[2]].

What can travelers do to avoid issues with CBP?

Have detailed and comprehensive travel plans, including confirmed accommodation bookings.