What was supposed to be a glamorous trip to California for the Coachella music festival turned into a traumatizing ordeal for Brazilian beauty queen Francielly Ouriques.
Instead of dancing in the desert, she ended up detained, questioned, and deported — all while feeling humiliated and helpless in a foreign country.
Detained During a Layover and Pulled Aside by U.S. Customs
Francielly was connecting through Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on April 10, en route to California, when she was suddenly stopped by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents.
She was taken to a separate room for further questioning and security checks — something she shared in a candid video posted to social media earlier this week.
According to Francielly, the situation escalated quickly.
Customs officers began inspecting her belongings and found something that raised red flags: four tablets of Tramal, a powerful painkiller that is considered a controlled substance in the United State.
She insists she had no idea it was illegal to carry it.
“If I had known, I would never have carried it,” she said.
Carrying a Friend’s Luggage Sparked Suspicion
Francielly mentioned that part of the trouble began because she was carrying a bag for a friend — a decision that turned out to be a serious mistake.
CBP agents viewed it as suspicious behavior, and what followed was hours of waiting, more questioning, and a deep dive into her personal digital life.
While in that holding room with other detained foreign travelers, she said her phone was thoroughly searched.
It was during this digital sweep that agents allegedly uncovered messages from a previous visit to the U.S. — including conversations about opening a business with a former boyfriend and communications with a visa-related company.
Accused of Planning Illegal Work in the U.S.
What really pushed things over the edge was that the agents believed she was planning to work illegally in the country, based on the content they found on her phone.
Francielly said her tourist visa was swiftly revoked, and she was officially deemed a threat to national security.
“They said I was suspected of illegal work and was a threat to the country,” she shared in disbelief.
Locked in a Cold, Tiny Cell with Only Water and a Meal Box
The former pageant queen described being kept for 15 hours in a cramped, freezing three-square-foot cell.
She was given just one bottle of water and a single boxed meal during her stay.
“[I was] treated like a bandit,” she said. “It was complete humiliation.”
Eventually, she was taken to a United Airlines terminal in a CBP vehicle and placed on a flight back to Brazil.
She says she didn’t get her passport back until the plane landed.
Feeling Abandoned and Unprotected After Returning Home
Once back in Brazil, Francielly tried to get guidance from the Federal Police about how to handle the deportation situation, but they told her there wasn’t much they could do since it happened on U.S. soil.
“So legally, we have no voice,” she said. “I felt unprotected, vulnerable, very scared, and now completely traumatized.”
She decided to share her experience publicly, warning others to be cautious when traveling to the United States.
“If you can avoid it, don’t even go,” she advised.
Will She Ever Return to the U.S.? She’s Not So Sure
At this point, Francielly doesn’t know if she’ll ever attempt to travel to the U.S. again. The experience left a deep mark — not just physically, but emotionally and mentally.
U.S. Officials Say She Lied About Her Trip’s Purpose
A spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection later confirmed to DailyMail.com that Francielly was denied entry because her statements during the interview didn’t align with her visa’s intended purpose.
In their words, she was “inadmissible” based on inconsistencies and was therefore deported.
Some Followers Mocked Her Over Her Support for Donald Trump
Adding insult to injury, Francielly faced backlash on social media after sharing her story.
Some commenters reminded her of her vocal support for Donald Trump, saying this was ironic given her recent treatment by the U.S. immigration system.
“I remember when you celebrated Trump’s win!” one follower wrote.
“Here’s the welcome you get from Donald Trump’s America,” another added.
A Cautionary Tale for International Travelers
Francielly’s ordeal has become a talking point online, not just for what happened, but for what it reveals about how quickly things can spiral for international travelers — especially when crossing borders with strict immigration laws.
Whether you’re a tourist or a beauty queen, one wrong step (or tablet) can mean a very unwelcome ending to your travel plans.