Minneapolis is ground zero for a massive federal operation, and a local Hilton hotel just threw a wrench into the works by allegedly refusing service to ICE agents.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has rolled out a month-long mission in Minneapolis with 2,000 federal workers, including up to 1,500 ICE officers, targeting unauthorized migrants with deportation orders and expanding fraud investigations tied to federally funded programs—one of the largest such deployments in a U.S. city in recent memory.
It’s not just a logistical headache; it’s a potential financial burden on an already stretched-thin community.
This all kicked off on Sunday when DHS launched their operation, bringing in heavy hitters like U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commander Gregory Bovino, who has led immigration raids in major cities like Los Angeles and Chicago.
By Monday, trouble brewed as DHS accused the Hilton Minneapolis of flat-out denying rooms to ICE agents, claiming staff orchestrated a “coordinated campaign” to refuse service.
DHS didn’t mince words, alleging that Hilton cancelled reservations booked with official government emails and rates. “When officers attempted to book rooms using official government emails and rates, Hilton Hotels maliciously CANCELLED their reservations. This is UNACCEPTABLE,” DHS blasted in a statement on X.
Let’s unpack that—cancelling federal bookings on purpose isn’t just a snub; it’s a direct challenge to law enforcement’s ability to do their job. If DHS can’t secure basic lodging, how are they supposed to focus on fraud probes or deportations? This smells like virtue signalling over public safety.
A purported email from a manager at the Hampton Inn by Hilton in Lakeville, south of Minneapolis, reportedly stated, “After further investigation online, we have found information about immigration work connected with your name, and we will be cancelling your upcoming reservation.” That’s a bold move, essentially admitting they’re targeting agents based on their mission.
Hilton corporate pushed back, insisting the independently owned hotel’s actions don’t reflect their values. “This hotel is independently owned and operated, and these actions were not reflective of Hilton values,” a spokesperson said, adding they’ve contacted the property, which apologized and is working to accommodate affected guests.
Apologies are nice, but let’s be real—actions speak louder, and Hilton needs to ensure this doesn’t happen again while federal agents are in town. If they’re truly open to everyone, as they claim, then stonewalling DHS shouldn’t even be on the table.
The scale of this operation can’t be overstated—Minneapolis is being dubbed “the new Chicago” by a former law enforcement official due to the sheer resources poured in, with as many Homeland Security Investigation agents here as in all of Arizona.
ICE officers are laser-focused on apprehending migrants with active deportation orders in the Twin Cities area. Meanwhile, Homeland Security Investigation agents are digging into fraud tied to federal programs—a double-barreled approach to law and order.
From a right-of-center view, this is exactly the kind of enforcement we’ve been asking for—no more turning a blind eye to broken immigration laws or misused taxpayer dollars. But when hotels like Hilton allegedly interfere, it’s not just frustrating; it’s a slap in the face to rule-following citizens.
Let’s hope Hilton’s promised fixes hold up, because DHS has a job to do, and Minneapolis deserves the full weight of this operation without petty roadblocks. The law isn’t a suggestion, and neither is the need for basic cooperation from local businesses.
As this month-long mission unfolds, eyes are on Minneapolis to see if federal agents can push through despite the early hiccups. For now, the clash between DHS and Hilton serves as a reminder: enforcing the law isn’t always popular, but it’s necessary—and no hotel should stand in the way.
