The Department of Homeland Security accused Hilton Hotels of canceling Minneapolis hotel reservations made by law enforcement officers involved in immigration enforcement in Minnesota as the Trump administration investigates fraud allegations there.
“There’s no room at the inn!” DHS said in a social media post on X. “Hilton Hotels Launches a Coordinated Campaign in Minneapolis to Deny Service to DHS Law Enforcement.”
Hilton said in a statement to USA Today that the hotel in question is independently owned and operated, and that the actions taken do not reflect the company’s values.
“We have been in direct contact with the hotel, and they have apologized for the actions of their team, which was not in line with their policies,” the statement said. “They have taken immediate action to resolve this matter and are contacting affected guests to accommodate them. Hilton’s position is clear: our properties are open to all and we will not tolerate discrimination of any kind.”
The Hilton Hotel sign is displayed above its Sydney building on December 30, 2005.
Everpeak Hospitality, which operates the hotel, “moved immediately to address this matter as it is inconsistent with our policy of being a welcoming place for all.”
“We are in contact with affected guests to accommodate them. We do not discriminate against any individual or agency and apologize to those affected,” the 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.”
Screenshots shared on social media appear to show DHS denying reservations made by enforcement agents at the Hampton Inn in Lakeville, Minnesota — about 25 miles from Minneapolis — because of their affiliation with Immigration Customs and Enforcement. DHS said agents booked rooms using official government emails and rates.
“We have seen an influx of GOV reservations made for DHS today and we are not allowing any ICE or immigration agents to stay on our property,” one screenshot read, though email addresses and names were redacted. “If you are with DHS or immigration, let us know because we will have to cancel your reservation.”
“Please inform your colleagues that we are not allowing any immigration agents to stay on our property,” the screenshot also reads.
“This is unacceptable,” DHS said in its social media post.
The Trump administration says it is cracking down on suspected fraud of taxpayer dollars in Democratic-led Minnesota. The Biden administration also investigated fraud there, including theft from Medicaid programs, which led to dozens of arrests and convictions.
Federal prosecutors have charged more than 80 people with involvement in the scheme since 2022, most of them US citizens of Somali descent. At least 60 suspects have been convicted.
According to the US Census Bureau, Minnesota is home to the largest population of people of Somali descent. The population is estimated between 60,000 and 80,000 people.
In recent weeks, President Donald Trump has seized on the scandal, calling out Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who is running against him as the 2024 Democratic vice presidential candidate. The president has also called out the state’s Somali community, at one point calling them “scum” in comments local officials have criticized as racist and un-American.
White House Press Secretary Carolyn Levitt said in late December that the administration is investigating the denaturalization of individuals responsible for defrauding Somali-Americans in Minnesota, which has attempted to strip U.S. citizens of those who illegally receive tax dollars for social services.
Contributed by: Christopher Cann
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: DHS blasts Hilton hotel over canceled ICE reservation
