Nicole Saroukos was excited to visit her husband, who is a serving member of the US military but claims she was targeted by border officials on arrival in the US.
“I said ‘what do you mean I’m going to prison?'” she told 9News.
The former NSW police officer spent the night behind bars in Honolulu.
The Padstow Heights woman had no criminal record, a valid ESTA and tourist visa but she was deported after police searched her phone and her luggage.
“The officer stated that I had too many clothes for a three-and-a-half week trip,” she said.
“They started questioning me about my tattoos. I have two Japanese sleeves on my arms, tatts on my hands.
” ⦠I felt as though they were trying to racially profile me.”
A few people on traveller Renee Curry’s flight were knocked back “for interesting things like certain apps on their phones and things like that”.
Californian immigration lawyer Andrea Szew said tourists were now being subjected to heightened scrutiny from border officials at American airports.
“It sounds terrible that someone’s subjective opinion can be that powerful to send me back on a flight all the way back to Australia just because they’re having a bad day, because unfortunately it is a subjective decision,” she said.
” ⦠They can look at whose posts you liked, could look at your friends’ post that you’ve been tagged in, they can look at everything,” he said.
There are claims some officers are emboldened by Trump’s America-first policies.
If they suspect anything, immigration officials can search your phone or laptop.
“I just deleted any word of Trump in my text messages but there weren’t that many so it’s fine,” one prepared traveller told 9News.
The unfortunate reality is Australians have next to no rights when entering the USA.
Szew had some simple advice: “Remain calm, be polite and be honest.”
“Come, be aware, be prepared, but don’t be scared not to arrive,” he said.
Other tips include never booking a one-way ticket, having your itinerary printed and with you and taking extra care filling out the ESTA visa waiver application.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has updated travel advice and warns entry requirements to the US are strict.
