A young Australian woman says having too much luggage got her into serious trouble after she was detained, stripped, and held overnight in a US federal prison while trying to visit her American husband.
Former NSW police officer Nikki Saroukos, 25, was detained by US border officials upon entering the country via Honolulu, Hawaii on Sunday.
The 25-year-old thought it would be a routine visit to see her husband who has been stationed as a US Army lieutenant on the Pacific island and US state since August, 2023.
At no point was she given a reason for her detention, beyond the fact that border officials did not believe her story that she was visiting her husband after claiming she had packed more clothing than was necessary for a three-week stay.
She was joined on the trip by her mother for a planned three weeks together, being joined by her working husband on weekends.
