Two German teenage girls were detained and deported from the United States after arriving in Hawaii without a hotel reservation.Newsweek contacted the Department of Homeland Security for comment via email outside of normal office hours.Why It MattersThe 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.​What To KnowMaria 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.The teens hadn't booked accommodations for their full stay in Hawaii, which raised concerns for Customs and Border Protection—even though both had valid travel authorizations through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)."They found it suspicious that we hadn't fully booked our accommodations for the entire five weeks in Hawaii," Pohl said.The teens said they were questioned for several hours at Honolulu Airport before allegedly being subjected to full-body scans and strip searches, according to the report.They were then dressed in green prison uniforms and placed in a holding cell alongside long-term detainees, some reportedly facing serious criminal charges.The travelers said they had to sleep on thin, moldy mattresses and were cautioned by guards to avoid eating expired food.The following morning, they were told by officials that they would be deported. At the airport, they requested to be sent to Japan."It was all like a fever dream," Lepère said.This incident is not isolated, as reports indicate a rise in detentions of European tourists under the current U.S. administration, including the recent detention of three German nationals by border authorities under Trump's watch.Meanwhile, Germany has issued travel advisories warning its citizens about the threat of deportation under Trump's rule.The Foreign Ministry said that neither approval through the U.S. ESTA system nor a U.S. visa means people will be granted entry every time.What People Are SayingCharlotte Pohl told Ostsee Zeitung: "We wanted to travel spontaneously. Just like we did in Thailand and New Zealand.""We were scanned with metal detectors, the whole body was scanned, we had to stand naked in front of the police officers and were looked through," Pohl said. "Then we got green prison clothes and were put in a prison room with serious criminals."Germany's Foreign Ministry says on its website: "Neither a valid ESTA authorization nor a valid U.S. visa constitutes a right to entry into the USA. The final decision regarding entry is made by the US.. border official. It is recommended that you bring proof of your return journey (e.g., flight booking) upon entry.What Happens NextThe German Foreign Office is monitoring the situation and may engage in diplomatic discussions with U.S. counterparts to address the treatment of German nationals. Travelers are urged to meticulously plan their trips, including securing accommodations in advance, to mitigate the risk of detention or deportation.