The post included screenshots of internal emails allegedly sent by hotel management confirming the cancellations. In one message dated January 2, 2026, a hotel representative wrote, “After further investigation online, we have found information about immigration work connected with your name and we will be canceling your upcoming reservation.”
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Another email explicitly cited immigration enforcement as the reason for the refusal.
“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 message read. “If you are with DHS or immigration, let us know as we will have to cancel your reservation.”
The property referenced in the correspondence appears to be the Hampton Inn Lakeville, which operates under the Hilton brand.
DHS officials condemned the move, calling it an unprecedented obstruction of federal law enforcement duties. The department went further, accusing Hilton of siding with violent criminals by interfering with immigration enforcement operations.
“This is UNACCEPTABLE,” DHS wrote. “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?”
Under Hilton’s business model, many properties are franchised, though brand standards and policies are typically enforced at the corporate level. The incident comes as immigration enforcement intensifies nationwide, with federal agencies increasing operations in major metro areas.
This comes after federal authorities have ordered a large deployment of ICE agents to Minneapolis, with Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the center of a sweeping operation tied to immigration enforcement and an ongoing fraud investigation. According to officials, roughly 2,000 federal agents from multiple agencies are being sent to the city, marking one of the most significant federal law enforcement surges in the region in recent years.
The deployment is expected to focus on identifying and arresting individuals with outstanding immigration violations while also assisting prosecutors investigating large-scale fraud schemes believed to have exploited public assistance programs.[/read]