What began as a dream trip turned into a nightmare for two young German women—Charlotte Pohl, 19, and Maria Lepere, 18—when they were detained, jailed, and deported upon arrival in Hawaii. The incident has sparked concern over the treatment of international travellers at U.S. borders.
The ordeal was first reported by Germany’s Ostsee-Zeitung newspaper. Germany’s Foreign Office confirmed involvement in the case, saying it provided consular support after the women were taken into custody in Honolulu.
Pohl and Lepere’s dream trip takes a dark turn
The two women had travelled to Honolulu from Auckland with plans to visit Hawaii, California, and Costa Rica. However, their flexible travel arrangements—such as the lack of pre-booked accommodation—raised suspicions with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Although both had valid ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) clearance, they were accused of possibly intending to work illegally in the U.S. The German Foreign Office clarified that ESTA approval allows travel to the U.S., but final entry decisions rest with border officials at the point of entry.
Pohl and Lepere said they were interrogated for hours at the airport before being handcuffed and transported to a deportation detention centre.
Strip-searched and held with criminal detainees
At the facility, the women said they underwent full-body scans and strip searches before being issued green prison uniforms. They were placed in a holding cell overnight alongside detainees facing serious criminal charges.
Conditions in the cell were harsh: they had to sleep on thin, moldy mattresses and use basic toilets, with guards warning them against eating expired food.
The next day, the women were taken back to the airport in handcuffs and deported. At their request, they were sent to Japan instead of Germany to avoid a longer return journey to New Zealand.
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Concerns over travel rights and U.S. border decisions
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently addressed concerns among European travellers, stating, “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… stir up conflict on our campuses and create riots in our streets and vandalize our universities, then you have nothing to worry about.”
However, the experience of Pohl and Lepere highlights that travellers without fixed lodging plans, detailed itineraries, or proof of funds can face refusal at the border, even with ESTA clearance.
Germany’s updated travel advisory now explicitly warns: “Entry to the United States is at the sole discretion of U.S. border authorities.”
