German teenagers were denied entry to the US, jailed, strip-searched, and deported after admitting to the high crime of doing remote work while backpacking. This story presents an important reminder for foreign travelers to the USA and will, unfortunately, likely cause a further chilling effect on travel to the United States.
German Teenagers Who Wanted To Backpack Across US Denied Entry At Hawaii Border After Admitting To Remote Work, Then Jailed And Strip-Searched
Let’s first look at their story, shared in the German press and later in Hawaiian media and eventually on reddit, where it went viral and was then deleted.
“Please be careful – we were deported from the U.S. for just wanting to backpack”
“I want to share what happened to me and my best friend last month when we tried to begin our backpacking trip in the U.S. Maybe it helps someone avoid the same nightmare.
“We are 19 and 18 years old, from Europe, and we arrived in Honolulu from New Zealand, with the plan to explore the islands first, and then fly to the mainland after to explore California. We had booked only the first 2 nights in an Airbnb, just to be flexible with our plans – like we did in New Zealand, and like many backpackers do. We had the onward ticket to the next destination in Asia but didn’t book domestic flights in the U.S. for the same reason.
“At passport control they took us aside for ‘additional questions.’ At first we didn’t think it was such a big thing, but then it became very intense. They were asking us why we didn’t book more nights or domestic flights, what our plans were, how we can afford to travel, and especially about work. We do sometimes small freelance jobs online (like translating or design stuff, for customers back in Germany and sometimes also Asia, not the U.S.), and we mentioned that – which was maybe the biggest mistake. It was also in the e-mails that they accessed.
“After a while they told us we are not allowed to enter the U.S., that we are ‘inadmissible.’ They said we were trying to work illegally, which we didn’t. We had onwards tickets and just wanted to travel.
“But they didn’t care. They took our phones, our passports, and put us in handcuffs – that moment was surreal. Like, you’re a tourist and now you’re treated like criminal. They wanted to send us back to Auckland on the next flight, but we asked to rebook our onwards tickets for the day after, so we could continue with our travels. They agreed but said that we will be detained for the night. We agreed, having no idea what to expect, thinking that we would maybe wait in the same room that they interviewed us. But no.
“They drove us to the detention center in Honolulu. I think it was called FDC prison, close to the airport. It was a real jail. Metal doors, locked cells, cold air. And they made us do a full strip search. It was really cold. We had to undress completely, including bra and underwear, and even had to squat and spread… I don’t want to describe it in too much detail, but it was humiliating and scary. We were alone with a female officer, but still… you don’t expect that as a tourist.
“After that they gave us green prison clothes and put us in a cell overnight with two other women – who were actually bragging to us about their cartel connections and implying that they were serious criminals. It felt like a movie, but not a nice one. Of course we didn’t not sleep even for a minute. I’m not picky, but the food was another horror story.
“The next day they stripped us down again, we changed back into our clothes, and they took us straight to our plane – two officers returned our passports and escorted us to our seats as the door was about to close. Just like that. They also told us that if we want to come to the U.S. again, we cannot use a visa free system anymore.
“So yeah… please be very careful if you plan to backpack in the U.S. Book all your accommodation in advance (even if you plan to change later). There are many fully refundable options – and we thought about it, but decided that it wouldn’t be necessary. And don’t mention any remote work or freelancing and make sure to log out of any e-mails that could be used as evidence of it. And know that if something goes wrong, it’s not just ‘denied entry’ – it’s jail, strip search, and total loss of control.
“We are still totally shaken from it and feel like we did something wrong, even if we didn’t mean to. Just wanted to share, because I would have never imagined this could happen. My feeling is that backpacking culture isn’t understood or accepted at U.S. borders right now. Be careful!”
That’s quite a harrowing account…
Doing Gig Work In The USA While Visiting On ESTA
I’m not going to get bogged down by an extended discussion of letter versus the spirit of the law: the USA is not alone in prohibiting freelance and remote work, when traveling on a tourist ESTA (visa waiver), though this (reasonably) comes as a surprise to many (myself included). I think it’s beyond absurd that teenagers cannot work on their computers while on vacation…but whether you are a foreigner working for “foreign” clients is irrelevant…it’s just not explicitly allowed per the immigration rules, as written–and that precedes the Trump Administration.
The lack of booked accommodations or domestic flights was not the problem itself, but that certainly contributed to the problem…it led to questions, which led to more questions, which exposed how the teenage girls were able to fund their travels.
It’s a sad day when anyone (though especially teenage backpackers) are turned away for doing online translation work and it’s not the kind of immigration policy I support…especially when it appears this was an honest mistake.
Generally, business ESTAs are for those attending meetings, conferences, or engaging in short-term training, while tourist ESTAs are for leisure, vacation, or visiting friends and family.
Per the US State Department, examples of “temporary business” include:
- Attending business meetings or consultations
- Attending a business convention or conference
- Negotiating contracts
That wasn’t the nature of their “work” in the USA.
But here is what is explicitly prohibited under ESTA travel:
- study, for credit
- employment
- work as foreign press, radio, film, journalists, or other information media
- permanent residence in the United States
Freelance workers are not employees…no one in the US or even outside was employing these girls in the technical sense.
“Gig” work falls into a gray area, but certainly can become problematic, as these girls found out. That’s scary for me, because if other countries started doing the same thing, my review trips for the blog would require special work visas…
It Gets So Much Worse…
I think reasonable minds can disagree as to whether those girls should have been denied entry into the USA.
Where I hope there would be universal agreement is about how poorly they were treated once it was determined they would be denied entry into the USA and deported.
Handuffed? Forced to take all their clothes off, including underwear? Thrown into a prison cell with real criminals?
How absolutely disgusting.
And yet not a surprise. My wife had to undergo the same degrading strip search when she applied for a green card ot the USA. During the last administration, we were hassled by a disgusting agent at Amsterdam Schipol Airport who was not “just doing her job”…she was harassing legal residents of the USA for chuckles.
Overreaction is hardly unique and yet no less sad here.
CONCLUSION
This is such a horrific story putting the spotlight on how cruel America has become…and as my own wife can attest, this preceded the current administration. Their denial may have been technically correct, based on a strict interpretation of immigration and visa laws. But was the rest of their treatment appropriate? NO WAY. They posed no threat to the safety and security of the United States and were treated like MS-13 gang members.
Anyway you slice it, the idea that these teenage German backpackers should have been handcuffed, strip-searched, and jailed is indefensible. I wonder how Americans would tolerate it if German border agents started treating Americans in the same horrible fashion?
Thanks to Antwerp for flagging this story.
Travel to the US from Germany has dropped around 28% so far this year, stories like this which are going to be covered in the German media will not help the US tourism business that is for sure.
And the European visitor numbers are dropping even as the value of the US Dollar is tanking compared to the euro — tanking due to you know whom: the dude in DC who has basically adopted the man-child Elon Musk, the poster child for having engaged in wrongdoing when he was seeking US immigration services.
I was treated the same way even as an American when I was detained by CBP in similar conditions when trying to pre-clear in YYZ T3 as they thought it was suspicious I was in Canada for less than 1 hour. I was trying to help my grandmother make her connection at YYZ T3 right after covid basically ended and was subjugated to strip searches, drug tests, and a couple of isolated interrogations and am involved in litigation for my rights being violated (did not let me contact my or any attorney). I am equally disgusted how these teens were treated.
However, regardless of what they faced, these teenagers broke the conditions of their travel visa in the first place and odds are, this would not have happened if they abided by the conditions listed in the visa. Politics aside and regardless of who’s in power, if US citizens born to parents who are US citizens are treated in this manner, like me, because of “probable cause,” the US government and its extensions will only treat non-citizens much worse.
This is horrid. And for a U.S. citizen no less (not that anyone should be subjected like this beyond a conversation and if necessary a respectable and human inspection).
Clearly, the entire system with immigration procedures at airports needs to change. Massive reforms need to be made, the first being that at a certain point prior to strip searches or detainment you should be entitled to contact an attorney to be present. Second that a huge overhaul in education and hiring practices of these agents is undergone.
I’ll defend it.
Years of unchecked illegal immigration has gotten us to this point. And these girls are paying the price for what we allowed for decades, under both parties. It certainly could have been handled differently, and the prison is BS, but these girls created their own mess for the reasons listed by you.
I have no problem keeping visitors out that appear to be shady with a lack of plans, accommodations and return tickets. And yes they are “adults” but somewhere along the line parents need to guide their kids on stuff like this. It wasn’t a good idea or plan from the start. We can’t pull this nonsense in foreign countries so why should it be acceptable here?
I guess you never backpacked around Asia and Europe when you were younger? Tens of millions have over multiple generations exactly as these girls are doing. It has long been a rite of passage growing up and part of the joy was freely moving around with no plans.
But it makes sense that you never experienced this. Or think it’s odd. I’m sure if you had, you would not be such a xenophobic racist today,
No, no it’s not a “right of passage” for tens of millions. It’s a few lazy, usually stoned hippies looking for a reason not to grow up, get jobs and become productive members of Society. Along with not paying back their student loans. And it doesn’t go back generations, it’s more of a modern thing in the past few decades as some of the youth of today are exactly what I stated above.
Bottom line is we don’t need hippies lying and scamming their way into the country to meet guys and smoke dope. And I can guarantee their plans included getting undressed a LOT on the trip, just not in the way it happened.
What small minded bigot you are!
As a Brit, I can confirm US teens have been visiting us and continental Europe since at least the early ’60’s
Not content with crashing the stock market, the current administration seem determined to destroy the Trillion $ tourist industry and further alienate the actually free world.
PS. I have several US friends and love the history and culture but the past 4months have entirely isolated the US for me both professionally and personally (family trip to Disneyworld for Eater cancelled after the attacks on Canada), that UK considers family. I will be avoiding I will be avoiding any business in the US wherever possible,
I mean defunding a University older than the nation itself? Just about the only institution in the USA we can still respect
Luv a Brit X
Dave, I know, to a certain degree, you’re being a contratian just for the sake of argument. I get it. But I personally took a gap year, admittedly a little late, but from age 28-31. It was awesome. I backpacked the world, and when I came back, I resumed my career in a better position than I was in when I left. A lot of worthy, smart, and intelligent members of society from all parts of the world do this. They should be welcome in the United States.
Nah, they aren’t the type of tourists we need because they don’t spend money living in cheap hostels, spending money on drugs and stealing fruit to eat.
I do agree we need tourists that come to Vegas and other larger cities and spend money in hotels, restaurants and on tourists attractions. And yes that is being hurt by people who are “offended” over nothing that affects them so they are staying home. But two can play that game and I hope Americans reconsider any foreign travel and spend their money here. No reason to risk your safety and spend your money in places that hate us.
I wonder if they were going to be paid for their work. I suspect they were. Matthew’s writing doesn’t result in getting paid by an employer in Bhutan or Morocco.
Most border agents are just ok. Among countries that I have passed through many times, I only see Singapore are always decent. Some other countries are decent all the time but the sample size is too small.
They were very clear that their gig work is specifically with Asia and Europe only. Which they said their inspected emails confirmed. This is no different than Matthew.
Well that was a leap from kids doing some remote work to stoned hippies sponging of society. Think you lost the plot, Dave.
Huh? You think I am Dave Edwards? I am certainly not. But you must be Kim Jong Un, frustrated that he cannot visit Disneyland. The next best thing is LALF
The time wasted in actually finding real criminals. The resources wasted because an uneducated idiot interprets absurd things like this as suspicious.
The result will be the entire world is going to start scrutinizing American travelers to a tee and putting them through hell as well. Deservedly so now. I hope it starts by banning Americans at any e-gates they are now allowed through. Cant wait for this.
I travel a lot for work and when I or my employers are unsure of the visa-free stipulations, I always visit or contact a consulate or embassy of the country I’m about to visit to ask about what is okay or not. It is the traveler’s responsibility to abide by the rules and when visiting a country, they are guests allowed into that country for those specific reasons stipulated in the visa.
Don’t get me wrong. I sympathize with what these two young ladies went through and it’s very embarrassing that the government treats people this way. However, as others mention, this would have been avoided if they didn’t break the rules in the first place
What rule did they break? That they did translation work for European clients from their laptops while they travel around the world. If that is breaking the rules I see tens of millions of people, including myself, being subject to immediate deportation. I spent a month on a boat in the Philippines a few months ago surfing. I worked every day on my laptop, had zoom calls, wrote detailed emails to clients, made money. You think that was somehow violating the rules? Wow.
I am not an immigration attorney so this is not my expertise. I frequently go to the UAE and obtain a business visa before I go out of habit. Even when the rules changed for allowing US citizens to enter visa free, the embassy still said to get a business visa as they know I’m there for business meetings but also have remote work and their visa-on-arrival/visa-free stipulations do not cover for remote work.
I haven’t visited the Philippines and do not know their rules so I cannot and will not say for your case. However, in the US, doing paid translation work while in the U.S (or any freelance work with clients outside the US or bank accounts outside the US) on an ESTA is be a violation of the ESTA/Visa Waiver Program rules. It’s a violation because you’re earning money, regardless of where the client is located or where the payment is deposited. If the country rules directly stipulate that you can remotely work in the visa, then you’re not breaking the rules.. If it is not written to be considered business in that specific visa, which I agree that is a gray area, you’re still performing work that is often not covered in the visa-waiver/tourist visa and is a violation.
If you have any questions, contact the country you would like to visit and ask about the stipulations of the visa or visa-waiver program before travel, and I’m sure they’re willing to answer the curiosity you have for the subject.
Love how you called Antwerp a “dumb-ss” in such an eloquent way. May not agree with all your opinions on here, but you sure know your way in how to write things.
Mark, it seemed like there was a misunderstanding of what I initially said, so I wanted to clear the air and not cause any dissension.
I’m sorry? I thought it was a discussion in which we were both expressing our thoughts on this issue. I did not see where Malik was rude at all. I appreciated his take, despite it being different from mine.
Or just go to a country freely like tens of millions do on vacation and work on your phone or laptop while there. You are making this into far more than it should be in making calls to consulates etc – seeing if you need a special visa or whatever. You may not be an immigration attorney but you certainly sound like an over eager bureaucrat.
I don’t like this but I’ve faced the same sort of questions when visiting Australia. At least they weren’t sent to Nauru.
The current political climate doesnt help this bad press for the USA….I certainly agree that they could have been more humanely handled during the deportation process.
I think this is a lesson for how NOT to enter the USA. This isnt unique to the USA, Canada can certainly have this strict stance when it comes to “working”. I have had many colleagues detained by Canada saying they were there for meetings; when they should be only a tourist.
I certainly welcome the end of the practice of unwarranted search and seizure. I think it shouldnt be a witch hunt based on NSA data you cant defend against. However, before the rest of the world through shade to the USA; they do it too. So if you want to be on your moral footing, shouldnt you end the practice in your own country? Just saying…..
I was recently asked for proof of onward travel and my bank account info entering Sweden as i was there last July and again this past March. They wondered why i was there twice within a year. They especially didnt like i was visiting a good friend of mine in Stockholm again. I think they were worried about me staying and working or heck even having a relationship with a Swedish citizen and maybe stay there getting residency…..which given im a mechanical engineer and own my own business….would that expertise be unwelcome in Sweden???
So its not just two teenagers making a rookie mistake that can get some questioning…..
I will agree that Australia and Canada (as two examples) can be quite thorough in their questioning. However, let’s accept that since January this is happening over and over in the U.S. at alarming rates and with horrifying detainments for many – a large percentage of whom are young European women. This needs to end. There need to be reforms. And these CBP agents need to be better educated and able to reason through who is dangerous and who is not. And treating them with basic dignity.
The reality is you may have been questioned in Sweden. They may have pushed you a bit. We have all experienced that a few times randomly. But they didn’t take your devices, strip search you, jail you, or refuse entry.
I certainly said that they should not have been treated that way.
I just ask for countries that are criticizing the USA….end the practice yourself that you feel is an invasion of your privacy when entering the USA. Canada is the first to deport migrants cuz they feel they cant handle them…yet tell america to accept all? You cant have it both ways.
Deporting migrants and refusing entry to European holiday travelers are clearly not the same thing.
It’s not happening at an alarming rate since 1/20/2025. It’s being reported at an alarming rate since 1/20/2025. As Matthew and Lucky already said.
Can’t agree or disagree with you until we see data reported relating to airport arrivals and entry refusals for those with passports from the EU year over year. Do you have any? I would actually be interested if what you say is a reality.
So if a person visits to the US for vacation, wants to do an extended road trip to see the national parks or whatever, and takes work calls during their stay, that can be considered a violation?
Under the current laws, that would be illegal. Congress could pass a law to change the rules, but I haven’t seen any interest from either party in doing so. In addition, some states require to pay tax if you are in the state for a low number of days working, for example, I think NY state is just 14 days. I haven’t heard that they are interested in being more flexible (it was discussed during Covid but didn’t go anywhere).
It really sucks what these two people went through and can’t stress that enough. But you can’t do freelance work with a visa-waiver program that’s often dedicated for tourism or general business meetings. Freelance work is still considered work even though clients aren’t located in that country, you do not receive pay from that specific country, and bank accounts are all foreign. I’m saying this as a former United Pilot who left a decade ago for consulting work in the industry. I went through this trouble in Germany back in 2018 where I thought it was okay to continue to do remote work while having some vacation ideas, but they deported me because they had suspicion of work (including freelance work) and were right to do so.
I imagine there is far more to that story than you are telling. Care to elaborate? I doubt that going to Germany on holiday and doing remote work for clients back home while there would get you deported. Everyone, everywhere is working on holiday now. Millions of lawyers across the world would be forced to vacation in their own country under your scenario, lol.
What American uses the word “holiday”?
Sounds like we have a non American telling us how to run our country.
Whatever sh#thole you are from, maybe the UK, has more than its share of issues and wishes they were the United States, still the envy of the world.
Keep crying man!
Exactly. And who needs a President how to do his job. He doesn’t need courts. Or a Congress for that matter. All useless. Long live the King.
Can you believe it? I even use “whilst” at times. And yet I still a born U.S. Citizen with a U.S. Passport. Go figure.
Actually, Dave, I just travel around the world 300 days a year and see things from a global perspective. Something you might want to consider instead of sitting in your deranged world in Pensacola and praying to Steve Bannon.
Oh yea another “businessman” that travels the world and thinks that makes them important. While looking to exploit cheap foreign labor for profit. But yes it was easily to see you are a Globalist with far left left views.
Even America has our embarrassments, which includes those collaborating with foreign countries for greed while loving the exploitation of the working poor of the world.
But I’m sure it’s a great “holiday”.
There is clearly a strong motivation by some camps to highlight how bad things have become in the US.
Anecdotes are just that. The US and many other countries do not have consistently “nice” immigration procedures as evidenced by the comments above.
The real question is how often it is happening now vs. in the past. Stuff like this is not new and it is not unique to the US.
The power of the internet very likely does amplify negativity to the point that it can affect people’s decisions.
It will be beyond fascinating to watch actual data come out over the next six months as international travel not only takes place that was booked but new travel decisions are made.
What happen on OMAAT, I don’t see your comments there anymore?
He was punished. Unlike Wikipedia, who punishes people for life and where it is decided by one anonymous teenager, his punishment is one month.
this is a much more civilized place.
and I have grown to have a lot of respect for Matthew.
I frequent websites of men being strip searched.
CBP agents in the U.S., yes, even before Trump, have mostly been pricks. However, I would also like to see a report as to whether the actual entry refusal rates of EU passport holders has gone up since January. There is always a possibility it is just being reported more – I get that. My feeling though is that the current administration has empowered them even more with incentives for refusing entry at even higher rates.
None of it though excuses the fact that the CBP at airports (not border crossings) need to be better educated and trained as to legitimate threats. Two girls with German passports on a backpacking trip are not a threat of being “illegal migrants” as some people here want to claim. No more so than Tad and Tammy from Boston who are going on their 3 month backpacking trip around Europe. Can you imagine the outrage in America if Tad and Tammy were detained, cuffed, stripped search, and sent to prison in Germany because they honestly said they would also be doing some email work while traveling there for people back home? While some will argue here that it is “technically” not allowed there is no one in the world, other than the U.S. (or the rare bad apple agent in other countries) who would care about that. You are telling me that countries should refuse entry to lawyers coming on vacation to Europe who will do a few billable hours of work for clients back home while enjoying stay in Vienna? If this spreads globally, and it will if the U.S. decides to crack down on an antiquated and absurd rule that is vague at best, the rest of the world will retaliate and your computers and laptops will be searched as well for signs that you might be doing emails to clients back home while there. Basically, kiss the travel industry goodbye.
As to other countries, having been to over 80 in my life and traversing borders every few weeks, I can assure you I have never had issues anywhere beyond some more detailed questions by a not so friendly person as to my purpose of being there. Heck, I travel back and forth to Austria throughout the year and no one even bats an eye.
As to your final comment. I have thought about whether pre-clearance in Canada or Ireland is better. In fact, agents there may feel even more compelled to randomly refuse entry as the process is simpler, especially in the case of EU passport holders.
Exactly. Matt obviously hates Trump and now is scouring the news for a rare and unusual story that fit his preferred “TRUMP IS HITLER!” narrative. Even an essentially unverified “well they said so” story because the verified kind aren’t out there. And I guarantee he NEVER spent any time searching for these kinds of stories during Biden’s years. Welcome to Matt’s blog for the next 4 years. lol
While I disagree with Matt’s opinion on Trump I do give him a break because of his personal and professional life. We all care about our own self interest and he’s worried about his business interests that allow his traveling hobby. And he is married to a foreigner (maybe now a citizen?) so most in that situation are concerned about the US distancing themselves from the handouts and military help for these countries that can’t take care of themselves. Germany certainly fits the bill, although we have allowed them and the rest of Europe to steal from us for decades under both parties.
They’ve picked the wrong port of entry. A lot more so than the Aussie entering at JFK on CX. HNL merely receives incoming international flights for a few hours of the day. (Rest of Hawaii now only has Canadian flights, pre-cleared.) When they’re done questioning you, they close down the station, and if you don’t fly back on ANZ and want to fly to Japan the next day, sorry, you have to be transported to FDC hence the strip search…
That’s still more fortunate than waiting for weeks to be repatriated to Germany. They’ll take many days to transport you to the Eastern US for flights to Europe.
Meanwhile, if foreigners enter at busier places like LAX, SFO, JFK, EWR, where USCBP is staffed 16-18 hours of the day, the secondary inspection area is essentially a 24-hour operation. You can at least be held for 48+ hours there waiting for your exit flight.
Visitors to the US should learn a lesson: Consider deportation scenario and routes carefully. Now or even before 1/20/2025 it’s wise to avoid entering by land from Mexico, or wherever not directly connected to your own country. Best is to use pre-clearance in Canada and Ireland, where you’re most likely protected by the host countries.
Sorry, meant this to be for you but ended up on my reply to Tim Dunn.
As to your final comment. I have thought about whether pre-clearance in Canada or Ireland is better. In fact, agents there may feel even more compelled to randomly refuse entry as the process is simpler, especially in the case of EU passport holders.”
Try showing up in Australia with nowhere to stay, a five week plan and see where that gets you. If you’re lucky sent back home, if not to Nauru or XMAS Island.
I don’t approve this at all- every country should be more welcoming. But it’s not the crime or propaganda against Trump that holds any water- much less what Matthew or MSNBC purports it to be.
I attest that Australia can ask a lot of questions. However, I have made four trips there over the past three years since reopening and not once have had a return ticket or any reservations beyond the first night or two in SYD. I used the e-gates and was once pulled for additional questions. I had no return ticket and only two nights reserved. They asked why. I said because my trip here is fluid for meetings and I am unsure if I am going back to the U.S. in three days or two weeks. He just nodded and handed back my passport.
Every single blogger and influencer (including this one) technically breaks the terms of tourist visa any time they write/publish a post while abroad ( or any kind of work at all)
Antwerp thank you for responding. I think you’ve echoed what I said- you need to have a valid explanation.
As much as I think these girls got screwed they didn’t have that.
They should have been given the benefit of the doubt- Im sure they were harmless- but yet again they couldn’t explain themselves.
Ugh misogyny has been used by CBP as long as I can remember. No present husband , have your own income, well you must be suspect of something . In this case, without clear vacation plans, under the present administration it was simply foolish. They are of an age researching the rules of your destination is mandatory. Learn to answer questions without raising questions. Live and learn.