US EditionGerman Teens Try to Visit Hawaii, End Up Deported
- Two German teenagers, Charlotte Pohl, 19, and Maria Lepêre, 18, were denied entry to the U.S. In Honolulu due to suspicions of illegal work intentions, despite having Electronic System for Travel Authorization approval, according to German newspaper Ostsee Zeitung.
- They were detained by border officers who considered their trip suspicious, interrogated for hours, and subjected to body scans and strip searches before being deported back to Germany.
- The German Foreign Office was involved in their case and confirmed that ESTA approval does not guarantee entry to the U.S., which is a decision made by border officials.
- Both Pohl and Lepêre expressed feeling powerless during their detention, describing the experience as shocking and surprising, according to their statements to German outlets.
61 Articles
61 Articles
Harrowing stories cause 12% drop in US tourism
Two young German women’s dream holiday was transformed into a nightmare upon landing in Honolulu, where they were strip-searched and body scanned, before being deported. Charlotte Pohi, 19, and Maria Lepere, 18, had plans to explore the Hawaiian island before continuing their adventurous journey to California and Costa Rica. However, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) quickly ended… Source
KITV4 News
German teens imprisoned and kicked out of Hawaii prompts fears among foreign nationals
German teens detained and deported from Hawaii are making global headlines. And now, there are growing fears that stricter border control could impact the state's tourism industry.
'They treated us like criminals', German tourists detained, stripped and searched at Honolulu airport
It should have been a pleasant trip, that of two very young German girls who left Rostock and decided to spend three weeks in the United States visiting Hawaii and California. But something went wrong when they arrived at the Honolulu airport, where the tourists were arrested, stripped, searched and sent home after 24 hours. This is what happened to Charlotte Pohl, 18, and her friend Marie Lepère, 19: the girls, returning from a trip to Thailand…
Foreign travel to US drops amid Trump immigration crackdown
The United States has seen a decline in the number of international tourists visiting the country since President Donald Trump took office, following multiple instances of travelers being detained by customs officers. Since Trump descended on Washington, D.C., in January, his administration has launched a deportation operation targeting immigrants, which has resulted in tourists getting caught up in the efforts at times. The administration has a…
U.S. Jails and Deports German Teens Over 'Suspicious' Vacation
Two German teenagers were hoping to kick off their post-graduation adventure with beaches and sunshine. Instead, they got jail cells, strip searches, and a one-way ticket out of the U.S.—all for not booking their accommodations in advance. Charlotte Pohl, 19, and Maria Lepere, 18, landed in Honolulu on March 18, planning to spend five weeks in Hawaii before heading to California and Costa Rica. But when they couldn’t show proof of lodging for th…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 48% of the sources lean Left
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
Ownership
To view ownership data please Upgrade to Vantage
