An Australian woman denied entry to the United States has publicly criticised Homeland Security for what she calls “humiliating” treatment after being detained, strip-searched, and imprisoned during a trip to visit her US Army husband.
According to news.com.au, Nikki Saroukos, a former NSW Police officer from Sydney, was travelling to Hawaii with her mother to spend time with her husband Matt when she was detained at Honolulu airport. Despite having entered the US three times previously on an ESTA visa, she was pulled aside for secondary screening, interrogated, and eventually deported.
In a rare move, the US Department of Homeland Security has since issued a detailed public statement on social media defending its actions. The statement claimed Ms Saroukos had taken “recent long-term trips” to the US, carried “suspicious luggage,” and was unable to remember her wedding date.
Homeland Security also alleged that officers discovered “unusual activity” on Ms Saroukos’ phone, including 1000 deleted messages from her husband, and said her travel plans appeared inconsistent with tourism.
“If you attempt to enter the United States under false pretences, there are consequences,” the statement concluded.
Ms Saroukos has pushed back strongly against the allegations, calling the public statement “ridiculous” and “twisted.” She said her relationship had been mischaracterised, noting she had been speaking to her now-husband for months before meeting him in person.
As for not remembering her wedding date, Ms Saroukos said her mind went blank as she was “under immense stress.”
She also explained the deleted text messages were a coping mechanism for anxiety and insisted they contained nothing illegal or improper.
Ms Saroukos said she was ultimately taken into federal custody, where she was subjected to a cavity search, forced to strip naked, and held in prison overnight before being flown home to Sydney. Her mother and husband were not informed of her detention.
“I’ve never been so terrified in my life,” she said. “I never want to return to the United States.” She now hopes her husband will be able to relocate to Australia instead.
Source: news.com.au
