Overview

• Charlotte Pohl, 19, and Maria Lepere, 18, were detained in Honolulu after U.S. Customs and Border Protection flagged their flexible travel itinerary as suspicious.
• The German teenagers, who had valid ESTA travel authorizations, were accused of potential work intentions despite planning a vacation.
• During detention, they were subjected to full-body scans, strip searches, and issued prison uniforms before being held overnight in poor conditions.
• The German Foreign Office confirmed it provided consular support and reiterated that ESTA approval does not guarantee entry into the U.S.
• Germany and other European nations have updated travel advisories warning travelers about discretionary U.S. border enforcement policies.