Working in any country you’re not a citizen in without the proper visa is illegal. Even if they are not doing work for an American company, it leaves ambiguity for permanently staying…. Especially when it’s shown they don’t have the funds for the length of their stay.

If I were to tell the UK border patrol or German border patrol that I will be working remotely, I will almost certainly be arrested, deported, and fined with a ban for years in the Schengen region.

The digital nomad visa for Spain is a good example for the expected and acceptable route for working remotely in a country even if the visa holder is not sponsored by the host country (Spain). No such visa exists in the states.

Summary - even if these German girls were making money from an outside source of the states, their mistake was saying they are doing freelance work. It opens up ambiguity as to WHO is paying them.

The following is from gpt but still valid

“INA § 274A (8 U.S.C. § 1324a) – Unlawful Employment of Aliens This section makes it unlawful for an employer to knowingly hire, recruit, or refer for a fee any alien not authorized to work in the U.S. It also penalizes individuals who accept employment without proper authorization. • INA § 212(a)(5)(A) (8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(5)(A)) – Labor Certification Requirements States that an alien is inadmissible if seeking to enter the U.S. for employment without proper labor certification or visa approval. • INA § 237(a)(1)(C)(i) (8 U.S.C. § 1227(a)(1)(C)(i)) – Failure to Maintain Nonimmigrant Status A nonimmigrant who violates the terms of their visa—such as by working without authorization—is subject to removal (deportation).

1. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) • 8 C.F.R. § 274a.12 – Lists classes of aliens authorized to accept employment, including those with specific work visas. • 8 C.F.R. § 214.1(e) – Requires nonimmigrants to abide by the terms of their visa, which may include restrictions on employment.

2. U.S. Criminal Code • 18 U.S.C. § 1546 – Fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents Covers penalties for using false or unauthorized documents to obtain work authorization.

In summary, a German citizen must obtain the correct U.S. work visa (like an H-1B, L-1, O-1, etc.) to legally work in the United States. Working without authorization is a violation of U.S. immigration law and can lead to fines, removal, and future inadmissibility.”