German Teen Girls Detained, Deported From Hawaii Amid Travel Warnings

Two young German women, Charlotte Pohl and Maria Lepere, were detained and deported after arriving in Hawaii without pre-booked accommodations for their five-week trip, prompting suspicion from U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials that they intended to work illegally despite having ESTA travel authorization. The pair described being subjected to hours of interrogation, strip searches, full-body scans, and being forced to stay overnight in a deportation facility, where conditions included moldy mattresses and basic toilet facilities. The German Foreign Office confirmed involvement in the case and reminded travelers that ESTA does not guarantee entry, as border officials have final discretion. Their experience is part of a broader trend, with other foreign nationals reporting similarly harsh detentions and deportations at the U.S. border. U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have attempted to reassure European travelers, but reports indicate a decline in overseas travel to the United States. The case has sparked renewed scrutiny of U.S. immigration practices and the discretion exercised at entry points.