A Hilton-branded property reversed course after Department of Homeland Security agents said their reservations were canceled as part of a large federal deployment to Minnesota.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A Hilton-branded hotel in Minnesota has issued an apology after staff refused to provide rooms to Department of Homeland Security agents deployed to the state as part of a large-scale fraud investigation that could involve as many as 2,000 federal personnel.
The incident came to light after DHS accused Hilton of canceling reservations made by federal agents using official government email addresses and rates. “When officers attempted to book rooms using official government emails and rates, Hilton Hotels maliciously CANCELLED their reservations,” DHS said in a statement posted on X. “This is UNACCEPTABLE. Why is Hilton Hotels siding with murderers and rapists to deliberately undermine and impede DHS law enforcement from their mission to enforce our nation’s immigration laws?”
Screenshots shared alongside the statement included a message from the hotel saying, “we are not allowing any ICE or immigration agents to stay at our property.”
The hotel is overseen by Everpeak Hospitality and located in Lakeville, Minnesota, south of Minneapolis. In a statement issued Monday, the company apologized for the cancellations and said it had reached out to affected agents to resolve the situation, according to NOTUS.
“We do not discriminate against any individuals or agencies and apologize to those impacted,” Everpeak Hospitality 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.”
A spokesperson for Hilton told NOTUS that the property is independently owned and operated and that the actions taken by the hotel did not reflect Hilton’s corporate values.
“This hotel is independently owned and operated, and these actions were not reflective of Hilton values,” the spokesperson said. “We 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 dispute occurred as DHS began a major enforcement surge in Minnesota. According to a CBS News report citing a law enforcement source, as many as 2,000 agents were deployed Sunday for a monthlong operation centered in the Twin Cities area.
The deployment follows a series of high-profile welfare fraud cases involving federally funded programs in Minnesota. Minnesota is home to approximately 79,000 Somali residents, many living in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul region, and DHS enforcement actions have recently focused on that community, NOTUS reported.
A DHS spokesperson confirmed the surge to NOTUS on Monday and said the operation has already resulted in a large number of arrests. “While for the safety of our officers we do not get into law enforcement footprint, DHS has surged law enforcement and has already made more than 1,000 arrests of murderers, rapists, pedophiles, and gang members,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said.
The White House also highlighted the Minnesota operation, saying it is part of a broader effort to combat fraud in the state. Administration officials said the response has included freezing child care payments and investigating potential fraud involving small businesses, labor programs, SNAP benefits, and public housing.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said last week that 98 Minnesotans have already been charged in fraud-related cases, writing in a post on X that prosecutions are ongoing.
“The Trump Administration is employing a whole-of-government approach to address the rampant fraud that Tim Walz has allowed to plague Minnesota,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told NOTUS. “Hardworking Minnesotans shouldn’t have to watch their tax dollars be funneled into Somali scams thanks to their corrupt Governor. As President Trump said, no one is above the law.”
Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Monday announced he would not seek reelection for a third term as the fraud investigations continue to expand.
Original article
Comments