For Charlotte and Maria, what should’ve been the trip of a lifetime turned into a 24-hour nightmare thanks to U.S. border policies cracking down on loose travel plans.
The German teens, both experienced backpackers, landed in Honolulu with just their first two nights booked—a strategy that had worked everywhere from New Zealand to Southeast Asia. But U.S. Customs and Border Protection had other ideas.
“They interrogated us for hours,” Charlotte recalled. “They didn’t believe we were just tourists.”
From Reddit (1/3) pic.twitter.com/cQzhIo4Xcq
— Priyamvada Gopal © (@PriyamvadaGopal) April 20, 2025
When the girls mentioned occasional freelance gigs (for non-U.S. clients), officials pounced, accusing them of planning to work illegally. Despite having no such intentions, they were handcuffed, detained overnight, and deported the next day.
.jpg)
Their advice? “Over-prepare for U.S. entry: book refundable hotels, print confirmations, and never bring up remote work—even if it’s unrelated.”
