Hilton Stands Up for ICE, Cuts Off Franchise Refusing Rooms to Agents [WATCH]

Hilton has moved to remove an independently franchised Minneapolis-area hotel from operating under its brand after the property barred immigration enforcement agents from staying there and later contradicted claims that the policy had been reversed.

The decision followed public backlash on Monday after the Department of Homeland Security shared an email sent by the Hampton Inn by Hilton in Lakeville, Minnesota, informing federal authorities that it was canceling reservations made by immigration agents ahead of a major enforcement deployment in the Twin Cities.

NO ROOM AT THE INN!@HiltonHotels has launched a coordinated campaign in Minneapolis to REFUSE service to DHS law enforcement.

When officers attempted to book rooms using official government emails and rates, Hilton Hotels maliciously CANCELLED their reservations.

This is… pic.twitter.com/qKMKypGtzi

— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) January 5, 2026

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

In a statement posted Tuesday morning on X, Hilton said it had been misled by assurances from the hotel’s ownership.

“The independent hotel owner had assured us that they had fixed this problem and published a message confirming this,” the company stated.

“As such, we are taking immediate action to remove this hotel from our systems.”

Statement from Hilton on a recent video pic.twitter.com/W8DWUTWD7f

— Hilton Newsroom (@HiltonNewsroom) January 6, 2026

Hilton’s statement referenced video footage posted by conservative influencer Nick Sortor, who visited the Lakeville property after the hotel’s operator, Everpeak Hospitality, claimed the issue had been resolved.

In the video, a front desk employee told Sortor that reservations from immigration agencies were still not being accepted.

“We’re not accepting people from immigration, ICE agents, DHS onto our property … it’s just policy,” the clerk told Sortor.

The video, shared on X, amassed over 4.5 million views.

🚨 BREAKING EXCLUSIVE: I went into the Minnesota Hilton who “apologized” for banning DHS agents, and EXPOSED them for CONTINUING to ban DHS agents@HiltonHotels has decided they want the FULL BUDLIGHT treatment at this point.

Hilton’s operator, Everpeak, STRAIGHT UP LIED in… pic.twitter.com/3g97P7okpz

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 6, 2026

The controversy unfolded as federal immigration authorities intensified operations in Minnesota amid a growing human services fraud investigation involving Somali-run daycare centers.

According to officials, approximately 2,000 federal personnel were deployed to the Minneapolis area over the weekend, including up to 1,500 ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officers and hundreds of Homeland Security Investigations agents.

As those agents arrived, the Lakeville Hampton Inn sent an email directly to federal employees with existing reservations.

“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,” the email stated.

“If you are with DHS or immigration, let us know as we will have to cancel your reservation,” the message continued.

After reservations were canceled, DHS issued a sharply worded statement criticizing Hilton.

“When officers attempted to book rooms using official government emails and rates, Hilton Hotels maliciously CANCELLED their reservations. This is UNACCEPTABLE,” the department said on X.

“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?” the statement added.

In response, Hilton initially sought to distance itself from the actions of the Lakeville property.

A company spokesperson said the hotel’s conduct was inconsistent with corporate policy.

“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,” the statement continued.

“They have taken immediate action to resolve this matter and are contacting impacted guests to ensure they are accommodated.”

Hilton also emphasized its corporate stance.

“Hilton’s position is clear: Our properties are open to everyone and we do not tolerate any form of discrimination,” the spokesperson said.

However, those assurances were undermined the following day when Sortor returned to the property and again was told that DHS and ICE agents were still not permitted to stay.

In the video, the franchisee told Sortor, “I just talked to the owner of the building, and he didn’t say they had any changes, it’s just policy.”

Following the renewed revelation, Hilton announced it would formally sever ties with the Lakeville Hampton Inn and remove it from Hilton’s reservation systems.

In its follow-up statement, the company also said it would review compliance across its broader franchise network.

“Hilton is – and has always been – a welcoming place for all,” the company said.

“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.”