Executive Summary
- DHS Secretary Kristi Noem accused Hilton Hotels of cancelling reservations for ICE agents in Minneapolis.
- The operation involves approximately 2,000 federal agents focused on deportation and fraud probes.
- DHS released emails allegedly showing a hotel manager refusing service to immigration enforcement.
- The deployment is described as one of the largest in recent years, comparable to operations in Chicago.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has formally accused Hilton Hotels of “maliciously” cancelling reservations for federal agents deployed to Minneapolis, Minnesota, as part of a large-scale immigration enforcement and fraud investigation operation. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem described the alleged refusal of service as a coordinated campaign to impede law enforcement personnel attempting to secure lodging using official government rates.
According to a statement released by DHS on Monday, the dispute centers on allegations that hotel staff identified and rejected bookings made by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. The department shared images on the social media platform X, purportedly showing an email from a manager at a Hampton Inn in Lakeville, Minnesota. The correspondence stated that the property had observed an influx of government reservations and would not permit ICE or immigration agents to stay at the facility. The email reportedly informed agents that their upcoming reservations were being cancelled following online research connecting their names to immigration work.
The accusations arise amidst a massive federal mobilization in the Twin Cities. Officials confirmed to CBS News that the operation involves the deployment of approximately 2,000 federal workers, including up to 1,500 ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officers and hundreds of Homeland Security Investigation agents. The initiative is designed to execute deportation orders against migrants and expand investigations into fraud linked to federally funded programs. US Customs and Border Protection Commander Gregory Bovino is expected to assist in leading the tactical operations in the state.
Representatives for Hilton and the specific franchise properties did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the DHS allegations. A former law enforcement official characterized the deployment as a significant resource allocation, comparing the scale of the operation to recent federal enforcement surges in Chicago.
Operational and Legal Implications
The alleged refusal of service by private hospitality entities poses immediate logistical complications for large-scale federal deployments, potentially forcing agencies to decentralize their personnel and stretch supply lines. While federal law prohibits discrimination in public accommodations based on protected classes such as race or religion, the refusal of service based on profession or government affiliation operates within a different legal framework that may invite civil litigation or regulatory scrutiny. It is important to note that the accusations leveled by DHS against the hotel management are currently allegations, and the specific intent or policy of the hotel operators has not yet been adjudicated in a legal forum.
