German Teens Detained and Deported from U.S. Over Lack of Hotel Booking
On April 19, 2025, two German teenagers, Charlotte Pohl, 19, and Maria Lepère, 18, arrived in Honolulu, Hawaii, expecting to embark on a dream backpacking adventure. Instead, their trip turned into a harrowing ordeal when U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers detained, strip-searched, jailed, and deported them for not having pre-booked accommodation for their five-week stay. The incident, first reported by Germany’s Ostsee-Zeitung and amplified by outlets like The Daily Mail and Newsweek, has sparked outrage and renewed scrutiny of the Trump administration’s stringent immigration policies. This article explores the teens’ experience, the context of U.S. border enforcement in 2025, and the global implications for international travel, drawing on recent reports and public sentiment to unpack why this shocking case has ignited fierce debate.
The Ordeal: From Dream Vacation to Deportation
Charlotte Pohl and Maria Lepère, recent high school graduates from Rostock, Germany, were six weeks into a round-the-world trip that included Thailand and New Zealand. Their next stop was Hawaii, where they planned to explore for five weeks before continuing to California and Costa Rica. Armed with approved Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) permits, sufficient funds, and a booking for their first week, the teens arrived at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport on April 19, 2025, after a 7.5-hour flight from Japan. However, their flexible travel style—lacking pre-booked lodging for the entire stay—raised red flags with CBP officers.
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Charlotte Pohl, 19, and Maria Lepere, 18, arrived in Honolulu to begin their trip but were grilled extensively by Customs and Border Protection
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Their experience was described as shocking and surreal, according to the outlet, after they were strip searched, had full body scans, and were handed green prison uniforms
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The following morning, the young travelers were taken back to Honolulu airport and deported to Japan as requested
After hours of interrogation, the teens were accused of intending to work illegally, a claim they vehemently denied. Pohl told Ostsee-Zeitung, “They found it suspicious that we hadn’t fully booked our accommodations for the entire five weeks in Hawaii.” The situation escalated rapidly: the teens were handcuffed, subjected to full-body scans and strip searches, and dressed in green prison uniforms. They were then transported to a deportation detention center, where they spent the night on moldy mattresses, used rudimentary toilets, and were warned by guards to avoid expired food. The next morning, they were deported to Japan at their request, avoiding a longer return to New Zealand.
Lepère described the experience as “like a fever dream,” adding, “We had already noticed a little bit of what was going on in the U.S. But at the time, we didn’t think it was happening to Germans. That was perhaps very naive.” The teens later shared their story on Reddit, warning others: “Book all your accommodation in advance… And don’t mention any remote work or freelancing… It’s not just ‘denied entry’—it’s jail, strip search, and total loss of control.”
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While Trump’s tariffs struck fear in international travelers’s and their wallets, horror stories of travelers winding up being detained has caused many to think twice before flying over
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Jasmine Mooney, 35, landed back in Canada on Saturday after being detained for nearly two weeks by U.S. immigration officials after trying to enter the country from Mexico on March 3
Context: Trump’s Immigration Crackdown
The teens’ ordeal is not an isolated incident but part of a broader immigration crackdown under President Donald Trump’s second administration, which began on January 20, 2025. Trump campaigned on a promise of “the largest deportation operation in American history,” targeting undocumented immigrants, asylum seekers, and, increasingly, legal visitors perceived as non-compliant. The New York Times reported that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested over 32,000 individuals in the first 50 days of Trump’s term, including 8,718 non-criminal migrants. This aggressive enforcement has extended to tourists, with European visitors facing a 12% drop-off in March 2025, and German travel to the U.S. down 28.2% from the previous year.
The Trump administration’s policies emphasize strict scrutiny at borders, with CBP officers granted wide discretion to deny entry. ESTA approval, which allows visa-free travel for short stays, does not guarantee admission, as the German Foreign Office reminded citizens after the incident. Flexible travel itineraries, common among backpackers, are now viewed with suspicion, as officers probe for potential illegal work or overstaying. Beat of Hawaii noted that the teens’ lack of a fixed itinerary triggered concerns, despite their financial resources and onward travel plans.
Other cases underscore this trend. Jessica Brösche, a 26-year-old German tattoo artist, was detained for over six weeks in San Diego, including eight days in solitary confinement, after officers suspected her of illegal work due to her tattooing equipment. British backpacker Becky Burke was held for 19 days in Washington State, transported in chains over visa issues. These incidents, reported by The Guardian and The Independent, have prompted Germany and other nations to update travel advisories, warning that even minor oversights can lead to severe consequences.
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Becky Burke, 28, was handcuffed and taken to a detention cell in Tacoma, Washington, in February
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German tattoo artist Jessica Brösche, 26, says she was left in solitary confinement with over a week after being arrested while trying to legally cross the US-Mexico border
Public Outrage and Diplomatic Tensions
The treatment of Pohl and Lepère has fueled outrage, particularly on social media. X posts on April 21, 2025, condemned the incident, with users like @JerryHicksUnite calling for a boycott of “Trump’s USA” and describing the detention conditions as “horrendous.” Another user, @Cooper19874, expressed shock: “FOR NOT BOOKING A HOTEL? Hope you don’t have kids.” The sentiment reflects broader concerns about the U.S.’s hospitality toward international visitors, with one X user sarcastically noting, “News like that will certainly do wonders for Hawaiian tourism industry.”
German media, including Stern and Ostsee-Zeitung, framed the teens’ experience as a cautionary tale, while the German Foreign Office provided consular support and engaged in diplomatic discussions with U.S. counterparts. Newsweek reported that the incident highlights how “minor oversights can trigger severe immigration enforcement” under Trump’s policies, potentially deterring tourism and straining U.S.-European relations. The National Travel and Tourism Office noted a 10% plummet in international tourism in 2025, costing the U.S. economy billions.
Critics argue that the treatment of the teens—strip searches, prison uniforms, and detention alongside long-term detainees—was disproportionate. Beat of Hawaii questioned the perceived “national security threat” posed by two young women with no criminal records, suggesting they could have been allowed to book lodging on the spot. Others, however, defend the CBP’s actions, citing the need to enforce immigration laws. An X commenter argued, “If it were rampant, don’t you think you would have heard more?”
Broader Implications: Tourism and Human Rights
The incident raises questions about the balance between border security and humane treatment. Strip searches and detention in substandard conditions, as described by Pohl and Lepère, have drawn comparisons to human rights concerns. The Guardian reported similar cases, including a German green card holder subjected to “violent interrogation” and a French scientist denied entry for criticizing Trump. These incidents suggest a pattern of targeting perceived non-compliance, even among documented travelers.
The economic impact is significant. Hawaii, reliant on tourism, faces backlash as stories like this deter visitors. Crooks and Liars noted a 28.2% drop in German tourists, with potential ripple effects on local businesses. Globally, the U.S.’s reputation as a welcoming destination is at risk, with European nations warning citizens to plan meticulously or avoid travel altogether.
From a human rights perspective, the teens’ treatment—handcuffs, strip searches, and moldy mattresses—has been called “degrading” by commentators. One Mile at a Time expressed sadness over the ordeal, noting that “backpacking culture isn’t understood or accepted at U.S. borders right now.” The use of deportation facilities for tourists, rather than immediate return flights, raises questions about CBP protocols and the necessity of such measures for non-criminal violations.
Critical Analysis: Policy or Overreach?
While the Trump administration defends its policies as necessary for national security, critics argue they reflect an overreach that punishes innocent travelers. The CBP’s suspicion of illegal work intentions, based solely on a lack of bookings, lacks transparency, as no evidence of such intent was reported. The teens’ claim that they were pressured to sign a false confession, as noted by The Daily Beast, suggests potential coercion, though CBP has not commented.
The administration’s broader immigration strategy, including the invocation of the Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged gang members, has faced legal challenges. Reuters reported that a federal judge found probable cause to hold the administration in contempt for defying court orders in deportation cases, indicating judicial pushback against executive overreach. The treatment of Pohl and Lepère, while not illegal, aligns with this pattern of aggressive enforcement, raising ethical concerns about proportionality.
Conclusion: A Cautionary Tale for Travelers
The detention and deportation of Charlotte Pohl and Maria Lepère serve as a stark warning for international travelers to the U.S. in 2025. Under the Trump administration’s hardline immigration policies, even minor oversights—like not pre-booking accommodation—can lead to severe consequences, from strip searches to detention in substandard facilities. The incident has strained U.S.-European relations, deterred tourism, and sparked debates about human rights and border enforcement.
For future visitors, the teens’ advice is clear: book all accommodations in advance, avoid mentioning remote work, and prepare for intense scrutiny. As Pohl and Lepère recover from their “surreal” ordeal, their story underscores the challenges of navigating a polarized immigration landscape, where flexibility and spontaneity can come at a steep cost. For the U.S., the question remains: can it balance security with hospitality, or will such incidents continue to tarnish its global image?
