- Oct 17, 2011
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It was Saroukos’ third visit [from Australia] to see her husband, Matt, a U.S. Army lieutenant stationed on Oahu. The newlyweds married last December.
She said she hadn’t had issues before, but this time U.S. border officials at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport flagged her for additional screening.
Saroukos said they were then taken to a holding room, their bags and phones were searched, and they were asked a slew of questions — everything from her work as a former police officer to whether her tattoos were gang-related to her marriage to an American.
Saroukos said officials conducted a body cavity search, walked her through the airport in handcuffs, and drove her to the Federal Detention Center.
Because Saroukos had missed the cutoff for dinner, she was not given food. At no point was she allowed to call her husband or mother.
Saroukos’ husband is now on leave in Sydney with his wife. He told HNN he waited for hours at Honolulu airport, repeatedly asking officials what happened to her, but no one gave him answers. He was finally told she was taken to the detention center but was not allowed to see or talk to her there.
Saroukos said she’s sharing her experience to warn people of the increased risks of traveling to the U.S.
She said she hadn’t had issues before, but this time U.S. border officials at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport flagged her for additional screening.
Saroukos said they were then taken to a holding room, their bags and phones were searched, and they were asked a slew of questions — everything from her work as a former police officer to whether her tattoos were gang-related to her marriage to an American.
Saroukos said officials conducted a body cavity search, walked her through the airport in handcuffs, and drove her to the Federal Detention Center.
Because Saroukos had missed the cutoff for dinner, she was not given food. At no point was she allowed to call her husband or mother.
Saroukos’ husband is now on leave in Sydney with his wife. He told HNN he waited for hours at Honolulu airport, repeatedly asking officials what happened to her, but no one gave him answers. He was finally told she was taken to the detention center but was not allowed to see or talk to her there.
Saroukos said she’s sharing her experience to warn people of the increased risks of traveling to the U.S.
