The two women were looking for a McDonald’s but ended up at Camp Pendleton, according to media reports
Two Russian women are facing deportation from the US after they allegedly took a wrong turn and drove onto the grounds of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California, the Russian Embassy has confirmed.
According to Russian media reports, the two friends, Kristina and Natasha from Samara, were on a trip to the United States last week. While driving near San Diego, they got hungry and used a navigation app to find the nearest McDonald’s. The GPS directed them to a route that took them directly to the military base.
The women allegedly stopped at the parking lot, where they were detained by soldiers. Their car was impounded and they have been in custody for at least three days, the SHOT Telegram channel reported on Monday.
“As of January 26, two Russian nationals were taken into custody after entering the grounds of Camp Pendleton, California,” according to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. the Russian embassy told the media on Tuesday. “They are currently being held at a local deportation center awaiting repatriation.”
The embassy added that consular officials are in contact with US immigration authorities to clarify the circumstances of the incident. It also noted that the US State Department has still not formally informed diplomats about the detention of Russian citizens.
Incidents of accidental trespassing at Camp Pendleton are a known recurring problem, according to local sources cited by SHOT. Whether lost travelers are simply turned away or arrested depends on the disposition of military personnel on duty.
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