> At a Glance
> – A Hilton-branded hotel in Minnesota allegedly canceled reservations made by ICE agents using government emails.
> – DHS claims the move was a “coordinated campaign” to refuse service to federal officers.
> – The property is independently owned; Hilton says the action violated its values.
> – Why it matters: The incident raises questions about how private businesses handle bookings tied to contentious government operations.
A Minnesota Hilton franchise is under scrutiny after the Department of Homeland Security accused it of systematically canceling rooms booked by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, igniting a public dispute over discrimination and corporate responsibility.
The Allegations
On January 5, DHS posted on X that “Hilton Hotels maliciously CANCELLED” reservations once agents identified themselves with official government emails. The agency also released purported hotel emails stating an “influx of GOV reservations” prompted a ban on “any ICE or immigration agents.”
DHS statement:
> “Why is Hilton Hotels siding with murderers and rapists to deliberately undermine and impede DHS law enforcement?”
Corporate Response
A Hilton spokesperson told News Of Los Angeles the property is independently owned and stressed the cancellations do not reflect Hilton’s stance.
Hilton spokesperson:
> “Our properties are open to everyone and we do not tolerate any form of discrimination.”
Operator Everpeak Hospitality echoed the apology, saying the incident was “inconsistent with our policy of being a welcoming place for all” and pledged to contact affected guests.
Operation Context
The dispute coincides with a reported Trump administration enforcement surge targeting undocumented Somali immigrants around Minneapolis-St. Paul. DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin previously told the New York Times that ICE targets are “not their race or ethnicity, but the fact that they are in the country illegally.”
Key Takeaways
- A franchised Hilton location, not corporate Hilton, canceled the bookings.
- Both Hilton and Everpeak say the cancellations violated policy and have apologized.
- DHS is framing the event as obstruction of immigration enforcement.
- The hotel is contacting agents to reinstate accommodations.
The episode highlights tension between federal immigration operations and private-sector service policies, with brand standards now being tested in real time.
