The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has accused the Hilton hotel chain of initiating a “coordinated campaign” of refusing service to immigration, ICE, and other agents. It started at one of their locations in Minneapolis, where ICE raids and unlawful immigrant detentions have escalated.
DHS Exposes Hilton on X
The Department of Homeland Security, a former respected agency, unprofessionally posted on X on Monday afternoon emails from a Hilton address stating that their immigration agents are not welcome to stay at their Hampton Inn Lakeville property. DHS surprisingly redacted the names in the screenshots, but still chose the public route of exploitation.
“After further investigation online, we have found information about immigration work connected with your name, and we will be cancelling your upcoming reservation. You should see a proper cancellation email in your inbox shortly from Hilton,” one email reads. “We have noticed an influx of GOV reservations made today that have been for DHS, and we are not allowing any ICE or immigration agents to stay at our property. If you are with DHS or immigration, let us know, as we will have to cancel your reservation,” another email reads.
The Lakeville Hilton location is independently owned and privately operated by Everpeak Hospitality, which released a statement on its website after the incident was made public. The cancellation of reservations “was inconsistent with our policy of being a welcoming place for all,” and they wrote that they are “in touch with the impacted guests to ensure they are accommodated.”
Hotel Chain Responds
More of this childish feud continued on X when DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin rejected Everpeak Hospitality’s statement, claiming they had not heard from them. However, Hilton gave an initial statement to CNN, insisting they “have been in direct contact with the hotel, and they have apologized for the actions of their team, which was not in keeping with their policies.”
“They have taken immediate action to resolve this matter and are contacting impacted guests to ensure they are accommodated. Hilton’s position is clear: Our properties are open to everyone, and we do not tolerate any form of discrimination,” the Hilton said in a statement, adding again that the Lakeville location is independently owned and operated.
Conservative Illegally Identifies as Agent
On Tuesday, January 6, 2026, Hilton issued a new statement to X regarding a recent video posted by conservative influencer Nick Sortor. “The independent hotel owner had assured us that they had fixed this problem and published a message confirming this. A recent video clearly raises concerns that they are not meeting our standards and values.”
In the video, Sortor illegally poses as a DHS agent and is seen speaking with a front desk employee of the Lakeville Hilton location on Monday evening around 10:50 p.m. In the video, the employee said they were not informed of a new policy regarding “not accepting people from immigration, ICE agents, DHS,” so he was denied accommodation for ten rooms supposedly for DHS agents.
“As such, we are taking immediate action to remove this hotel from our systems. Hilton is – and has always been – a welcoming place for all. We are also engaging with all of our franchisees to reinforce the standards we hold them to across our system to help ensure this does not happen again,” the statement said.
ICE Agents in Minneapolis
Thousands of ICE agents have reportedly been sent to Minneapolis, and another couple of thousand are on their way. The employees at the privatized Lakeville property were only looking out for their community and responding appropriately to the mass attacks that had taken place. Activists have also come out to protest the unlawful actions of DHS and their agents.
