A Minnesota hotel operator says it is working to accommodate federal law enforcement officers after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security accused Hilton Hotels of carrying out a “coordinated campaign” to refuse them rooms in Minneapolis.
The X account for Homeland Security published a post Monday sharing screenshots of emails from a partially redacted hilton.com address that identified the property as the Hampton Inn in Lakeville, Minnesota, about 25 miles south of the city.
“After further investigation online, we have found information about immigration work connected with your name and we will be cancelling your upcoming reservation,” the email says. “You should see a proper cancellation email in your inbox shortly from Hilton.”
An email address for Everpeak Hospitality was also included on the chain. On Monday evening, Everpeak posted a statement to its websitesaying it had “moved swiftly to address this matter as it was inconsistent with our policy of being a welcoming place for all.”
NO ROOM AT THE INN!@HiltonHotels has launched a coordinated campaign in Minneapolis to REFUSE service to DHS law enforcement. When officers attempted to book rooms using official government emails and rates, Hilton Hotels maliciously CANCELLED their reservations. This is… pic.twitter.com/qKMKypGtzi
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) January 5, 2026
The majority of branded hotels are franchises, individually owned and operated under a license with the larger hotel company, according to the American Hotel and Lodging Association. Those hotels still need to meet the “brand standards” of the name on the building.
“We do not discriminate against any individuals or agencies and apologize to those impacted,” Everpeak’s statement said. “We are committed to welcoming all guests and operating in accordance with brand standards, applicable laws, and our role as a professional hospitality provider.”
Hilton said in a statement that the hotel is independently owned and operated, and that the alleged actions were “not reflective of Hilton values.”
In its social media post, the agency called the cancellation malicious and “UNACCEPTABLE.” The official Instagram account for Immigration and Customs Enforcement tagged Hilton’s account in a post sharing the purported email.
In statement sent to The Washington Post, Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said Homeland Security “has surged law enforcement and has already made more than 1,000 arrests of murderers, rapists, pedophiles, and gang members.”
McLaughin’s statement included mug shots of several people identified as a “criminal illegal alien” along with details of convictions, including a Burmese man who DHS said was sentenced to four years in prison for sexual conduct using force or coercion in Nobles County, Minnesota, and a Somali man reportedly sentenced to prison for a robbery in Columbus, Ohio.
McLaughin appeared with conservative podcaster Benny Johnson in video clips circulated Monday, saying DHS officers were refused from booking rooms after trying to get a government discount.
“This isn’t one or two instances,” she says in the video. “This is a collective, concerted effort.”
Johnson raises the idea that his listeners should maybe boycott the hotel chain. In response to the DHS post, several people threatened to switch their business to other hotel chains and suggested the government cancel any contracts with Hilton.
President Donald Trump has targeted Minnesota, home to the largest population of people of Somali descent in the country, with inflammatory rhetoric, calling Somali immigrants “garbage” during a Cabinet meeting. Federal prosecutors have charged dozens of Somali individuals with stealing millions in government funds as part of a years-long fraud investigation.
Activists and immigration lawyers in Minneapolis reported ICE operations in the city last month, coinciding with a sweep in New Orleans and following similar action in Los Angeles, Washington and Chicago that led to thousands of arrests, as well as legal challenges and protests.
In both Chicago and Washington, data shows that most of the immigrants detained do not have criminal records.
The post Hilton property refused to book hotel rooms for ICE in Minneapolis appeared first on Washington Post.
