I am not sure I want her to. It's bad enough that my son, who is NOT a Trump supporter, is flying out of the country regularly, so I have to worry about him. Now I have to worry about the young lady too. My son has started to ask why we are still living in the U.S. It's a fair question.

It seems ridiculous to put them in a holding cell and not give them an option to just book a hotel or a hostel. There are plenty; it's Hawaii.

Which sounds like "made up rules".

If the U.S. is now requiring this type of info (and what these two were doing has apparently been a "thing" for at least a century or more, i.e., those who do free-style "world traveling", in this case, basically by "backpacking it" in various countries), then that should have been explicit on any visa request.

This apparently describes requirements for passport holders from countries like Germany, that are eligible for participation in "ESTA" (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) - https://de.usembassy.gov/visa-waiver-program/

It's generally used for tourists, business travelers, etc., who will be staying in the U.S. for up to 90 days, and these individuals described in the OP article, were staying for LESS time - ~5 weeks = 35 days.

This is probably why this is "news".

We had just bought our house in Oregon and were driving along, saw the ferry port and said sure.

The customs guy was shocked that we just came to Canada without any reservations, and I think would have made us go back if it had been possible. Instead, he gave us directions to the Days Inn and strongly "suggested" we book a room before doing any touristing.

Since then, we have visited Canada many times. We will often drive cross-country, sometimes stopping at whatever town we are in when tired, sometimes booking that night's lodging before leaving the current motel. But we ALWAYS have the first night booked, with a printed copy of the confirmation. So, since I have it ready, they rarely ask for it.

after while on a work trip that I had just completed and wasn't leaving until the next morning, me and my coworker drove from the Seattle area up to Vancouver, BC (through the Peace Arch at Blaine, WA). Was only going to be there for a couple hours but other than the line to go across the border, there was no muss, no fuss. The only odd thing was trying to figure out the purpose of the blinking traffic lights.

I never saw those types of traffic lights 20 years later when going to Niagara Falls (Canadian side in Ontario), where we stayed for a few days.

I have traveled to Greece, Sweden, Germany, France, Austria, for example, without any idea where I intended to stay. My ex-husband liked to make it up as we went along. It's nuts to assume someone is a criminal simply because they haven't booked a room at motel 6 or whatever.

when you're travelling. Give an address, hotel name, hostel name, something. Even a campground address.

Supposedly the 2 also said the planned to work in Hawaii. Not on a tourist Visa. Rookie mistakes.

Plenty of European countries have similar requirements, and (at least where I've traveled) the hotels take your passports when checking in and report your stay to the authorities.

Supposedly the 2 also said the planned to work in Hawaii.

That's what the claim was ("Both claimed they were touring California but later admitted they intended to work — something strictly prohibited under US immigration laws for these visas" ). The girls claim that they never said that ("They contained sentences we didn’t actually say" )...

... but "While they’re back home, Pohl and Lepere told Ostee Zeitung they won’t let the US get in the way of their globetrotting and are already laying plans for a trip to Mexico and a five-week stint in Costa Rica — where they intend to find work at a surf camp."

I'll just say... if you can't afford to stay in Costa Rica without working... You definitely can't afford Hawaii.