Germany Updates Travel Advice for U.S. After Detentions of Citizens

Berlin has updated its travel advice for the United States, emphasizing that a U.S. visa or entry waiver does not guarantee entry for German citizens. This revision follows the detention of three German nationals attempting to enter the U.S. The updated advisory, issued on Tuesday, reminds travelers that approval through the U.S. ESTA system or holding a U.S. visa does not automatically grant entry. The final decision rests with U.S. border authorities. Recent incidents include the detention of a German man with a green card at Boston airport after returning from Luxembourg, and the detention of a 25-year-old German at the U.S.-Mexican border in February. A 29-year-old woman was also stopped at the U.S.-Mexican border in January and returned to Germany last week. The German Foreign Ministry is investigating whether these detentions represent isolated incidents or a shift in U.S. policy. Tourists from Germany and other EU countries typically have visa-free access to the U.S. for up to 90 days.