Two young German travelers, Charlotte Pohl and Maria Lepere, arrived in Hawaii full of excitement—only to be detained, handcuffed, strip-searched, and deported.

Their offense? 

They hadn’t booked accommodations in advance. That alone was apparently enough to land them in a jail cell, wearing prison uniforms, sleeping on moldy mattresses, and being treated like criminals.

This wasn’t an isolated incident. Tourists from around the world are increasingly being detained, shackled, and deported over minor paperwork issues or unfounded suspicions. Some have spent days, even weeks, locked up—many in terrifying, degrading conditions.

This sends a chilling message: if you come to America, you risk being jailed.

Tourism is vital to Hawaii, to the U.S. economy, and to our global reputation. But these aggressive and often cruel immigration tactics are pushing people away. The damage is already showing, with travel to the U.S. dropping and countries warning their citizens to think twice before visiting.

We demand change. U.S. Customs and Border Protection must stop treating visitors like criminals. Innocent travelers deserve respect, not trauma. This is not security, t’s senseless cruelty.

Sign to call for immediate reform. Let’s protect tourism, uphold our values, and welcome the world with dignity, not fear.

Photo: DailyMail