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IronLionZion

(48,892 posts)
Mon Apr 21, 2025, 01:38 PM Apr 21

German Tourists Deported From US for Not Booking Hotel [View all]

https://www.newsweek.com/germany-tourists-deported-hotel-maria-lepere-charlotte-pohl-hawaii-2062046

Two German teenage girls were detained and deported from the United States after arriving in Hawaii without a hotel reservation.

The case highlights how minor oversights can trigger severe immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump's aggressive border policies.

International travelers face increased scrutiny under the Trump administration's stringent immigration policies. This case exemplifies how minor oversights can lead to severe consequences, raising concerns about the treatment of tourists and the potential detrimental effect on international travel to the U.S.​

Maria Lepère and Charlotte Pohl, both recent high school graduates from Rostock, Germany, embarked on a world tour, visiting countries like Thailand and New Zealand, according to the German outlet Ostsee Zeitung.

Their journey took an unexpected turn when they arrived in Hawaii without pre-booked accommodations. Immigration officials, suspecting potential unauthorized work intentions due to the lack of hotel reservations, detained them.

They arrived in Honolulu on March 18, planning to spend five weeks exploring the islands before continuing to California and then Costa Rica following their graduation.

The duo spent several days in a detention facility before being deported, despite holding valid travel documents and having no prior infractions.


It's a bit unreasonable to expect teen girls to have 5 weeks of hotels booked. They probably don't even know which islands and cities they are going to be on. So they would just book hotels and hostels for shorter periods or rental homes like Air BNB. Young travelers often play it by ear.

Do you feel safer knowing that teen girls are being locked up? I have a hard time believing the US tourism industry isn't pushing back against this. Especially with a hotel owner in the white house.
128 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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I know people who have traveled by camping or renting camper vans IronLionZion Apr 21 #1
I had friends who stayed in hostels when they traveled. CaptainTruth Apr 21 #90
ICE quotas freezing out the world. cbabe Apr 21 #2
Young people use Uber and Air BNB as they travel. Irish_Dem Apr 21 #3
We locked up two 18 year old girls? yardwork Apr 21 #4
Locked them up and STRIP SEARCHED them. I hope they sue. I hate it here. OMGWTF Apr 21 #44
It's part of tRump's "No Stinking Tourists!" campaign. All part of America Alone! policy. . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Apr 21 #62
I've never felt such hatred as I do for these monsters. yardwork Apr 21 #91
Perverts and sex abusers. USA USA USA!!! JanMichael Apr 22 #105
Well, Tourism Industry: Those are two more potential clients you need not worry about ever LoisB Apr 21 #5
Plus everyone who read this story will think twice. Tons of young allegorical oracle Apr 21 #20
Big Brother is now stalking the USA looking for people to harass & TRAFFICK. Especially young female people? Attilatheblond Apr 21 #64
Ding ding malaise Apr 21 #78
Our tourist industry is going to suffer a whole lot!! riversedge Apr 21 #6
Most likely US citizens who have taken markodochartaigh Apr 21 #11
Terrorism (Domestically) ZDU Apr 21 #7
No hostels in Hawaii? Emile Apr 21 #8
There are definitely hostels in each major island of Hawaii. And great places to camp. SunSeeker Apr 21 #29
Can get a decent one for about $50 FHRRK Apr 22 #99
GOP ignoring the loss of freedom in america. Shame on them. lindysalsagal Apr 21 #9
Were they not Aryan enough or have tattoos on their fingers? Ping Tung Apr 21 #10
. dalton99a Apr 21 #12
Hardened killers both of them IronLionZion Apr 21 #15
Just wait for the doctored photos with tattoos. nt Grokenstein Apr 21 #35
I don't see any tattoos on these girls. How did ICE know they were gang members? FakeNoose Apr 21 #36
You can see the murderous gleam in their eyes IronLionZion Apr 21 #50
Yup, Codifer Apr 21 #66
Probably spoke better English than their captors. LiberalArkie Apr 21 #57
The U.S sure dodged a bullet with these two dangerous terrorists.. Dave Bowman Apr 21 #60
Oh my gawd! Don't scare me like that! Iggo Apr 21 #67
Trump has proved himself as incompetent in hotel ownership as he is in everything else. Aristus Apr 21 #13
Not talking about the specifics of this case newdeal2 Apr 21 #14
In Australia... ProfessorGAC Apr 21 #68
Don't try to enter the UK COL Mustard Apr 21 #93
Yup. You can expect to be questioned in most countries when you enter. MineralMan Apr 22 #123
Yes. That is true in many places. MineralMan Apr 22 #122
Powerfully done. Kid Berwyn Apr 21 #16
There goes backpack traveling to see the world. Well, in the United States anyway. Solly Mack Apr 21 #17
I'm sure that will play a lot in Germany. College kids from Germany won't be coming here this summer. patphil Apr 21 #18
That's how I travelled when moonscape Apr 21 #58
In their christo-fascist nightmare young women don't travel - TBF Apr 22 #112
This orangecrush Apr 22 #126
When we go to Ireland, we don't always book ahead Maeve Apr 21 #19
Oh we are so FREEEEEE nt lostnfound Apr 21 #94
When you enter the USA as a tourist, you are supposed to give your first address of stay prior to arrival DFW Apr 21 #21
I would book at least the first couple nights before arrival IronLionZion Apr 21 #22
You don't even need to do that. DFW Apr 21 #24
If they don't need proof, I could just say the name of some popular chain that every city has IronLionZion Apr 21 #27
Exactly. DFW Apr 21 #32
Well, Sunlight Apr 21 #37
Inexperienced or not, the airline definitely knows IronLionZion Apr 21 #42
Every country I've traveled to requires the address I'm staying at within the country. Ms. Toad Apr 21 #23
That is correct. DFW Apr 21 #30
This article doesn't tell the whole story either. Ace Rothstein Apr 21 #38
That would be a game changer for sure. DFW Apr 21 #71
Depends on where I'm traveling to. Ms. Toad Apr 21 #40
Never for me. My family went to England and Japan in the last two years. still-prayin4rain Apr 22 #104
I'll bet your immigration and customs forms asked for the local address, Ms. Toad Apr 22 #115
WHAT? When did that happen? I NEVER HAD lodging set. For over a dozen countries. Festivito Apr 22 #111
I dont' know when it happened Ms. Toad Apr 22 #114
We're not talking about immigration here. A few weeklong visit. Festivito Apr 22 #117
The form you fill out for a visit, in most countries, is usually called an immigration and customs form. Ms. Toad Apr 22 #120
We're sorry, we can't find the page... D-uh-OGE! Festivito Apr 22 #125
Here. Try this. Ms. Toad Apr 22 #127
Thank you. Guess I'd need to buy the new "Lonely Planet" guide. Festivito Apr 24 #128
Likely winging it and planed to stay in hostels IbogaProject Apr 21 #25
They probably were going to camp or stay at youth hostels, like I did when I explored Europe when I was young. SunSeeker Apr 21 #26
"They're rapists. And, i assume, some ars good people."? czarjak Apr 21 #28
Kraznov is working hard to alienate former allies to please pootin SheltieLover Apr 21 #31
republicon facism is killing America's tourism industry BoRaGard Apr 21 #33
Here are the two "terrrrists" that were stopped before carrying out their sunny sabotage at Waikiki DFW Apr 21 #34
I flew to Thailand Several times in my life as well as Bev54 Apr 21 #39
I watch a lot of british tv shows cksmithy Apr 21 #41
I guess we can't do that in the US now with hardened borders. IronLionZion Apr 21 #46
Kind of sad that Thailand is safer to visit than the US... Wounded Bear Apr 21 #43
I visited Thailand in January IronLionZion Apr 21 #48
That's ridiculous. So much for spontaneity. Vinca Apr 21 #45
Maybe these stories shouldn't come as a surprise, but somehow, I'm always surprised by them. ShazzieB Apr 21 #47
That's why I share it IronLionZion Apr 21 #49
Who exactly is the US tourism industry"? bif Apr 21 #51
US Travel Association is the main lobbying group IronLionZion Apr 21 #54
My message to Krasnov TSF: Mr. Evil Apr 21 #52
Good description. love_katz Apr 21 #85
Absolutely! Mr. Evil Apr 21 #92
I took a year off college and hitchhiked around Europe bif Apr 21 #53
My gap year JustAnotherGen Apr 21 #55
Shameful Tourism Killer GentryDixon Apr 21 #56
Rammstein - Amerika (Official Video) IronLionZion Apr 21 #59
When I travelled when I was younger, I would book one night for a hotel on arrival and no others Bernardo de La Paz Apr 21 #61
Yup and when visiting a country for the first time, I would discover new stuff I want to see IronLionZion Apr 21 #74
Snapshot of travel industry protesting, showing poor forecasts for 2025 Lulu KC Apr 21 #63
In case you see the gov't's claim that the teenagers admitted they planned to work in Hawaii Sunlight Apr 21 #65
What will happen to... 2naSalit Apr 21 #69
Especially when the world cup is hosted in 16 different cities IronLionZion Apr 21 #73
Truly... 2naSalit Apr 21 #84
I've been wondering about that, too. tanyev Apr 21 #77
2 young girls in bikinis... lame54 Apr 21 #70
eek! hawaii invaded by foreign tourist girl threat! help! help! struggle4progress Apr 21 #72
It's always been like this SARose Apr 21 #75
Yep..... Australia & New Zealand require you to tell them where you'll be staying..... it's pretty common. groundloop Apr 21 #76
It's been years for me but I never had accommodations JanMichael Apr 22 #108
Interesting SARose Apr 22 #113
It's all coming to: "May I see your papers, please?" SupportSanity Apr 21 #79
Papers won't help you IronLionZion Apr 21 #81
Even worse. SupportSanity Apr 21 #82
CBP is completely immune and unaccountable with 100% power at the border with no oversight or apply AZLD4Candidate Apr 21 #80
MAGA need to get with the times North Coast Lawyer Apr 21 #83
Insane. nt Exp Apr 21 #86
Insanity rules in the USA Meowmee Apr 21 #87
Next Iamscrewed Apr 21 #88
Oh I assure you they are always thinking of newer and dumber ways. nt IronLionZion Apr 21 #95
WHO would want to come here at this point? BigDemVoter Apr 21 #89
I'm expecting company from another country Marthe48 Apr 21 #96
glad they made it out alive. Seriously ecstatic Apr 21 #97
Two white girls unfairly strip searched? This will leave the MAGATs twisting in knots. nt Blasphemer Apr 21 #98
I've winged its dozens of time going w/o a hotel until I arrived here in the US Historic NY Apr 22 #100
Strip searched is essentially raped Old Crank Apr 22 #101
THATS why? oy vey. the stupid. stay home earth til the rat basturd is gone in 2029. pansypoo53219 Apr 22 #102
"Your Papers Please!" augyboston Apr 22 #103
You beat me to it. Shit it's early. Prairie_Seagull Apr 22 #107
How the fuck is this anyones business. Prairie_Seagull Apr 22 #106
Add USA to list of countries that are dangerous for young women to visit IronLionZion Apr 22 #109
When I was younger we never booked hotels in advance It opened up a lot of wonderful adventures. travelingthrulife Apr 22 #110
The US is bdamomma Apr 22 #116
Another indicator of America's restored Greatness? Will there be parades, marching bands, celebrating Ping Tung Apr 22 #118
Cheeto wants a big authoritarian style military parade IronLionZion Apr 22 #121
The 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics are going to be a disaster Bleacher Creature Apr 22 #119
This stunt will further kill any tourism LetMyPeopleVote Apr 22 #124
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