Hilton Withdraws Franchise in Minneapolis Amid Controversy

One of the biggest hotel chains in the U.S. is pulling its locations away from certain franchises after reports surfaced about employees not serving federal immigration officials.

Hilton Hotels & Resorts has decided to take the Minneapolis hotel off its roster. The company confirmed to a news outlet that management seems to be continuing the practice of denying reservations to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. This decision coincides with a rise in activity by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in the area.

A spokesperson for Hilton stated that the independent hotel owners claimed to have fixed the issue and had communicated as much. However, the spokesperson mentioned that recent videos raise worries about whether the hotel aligns with the company’s standards and values.

“Therefore, we are taking immediate action to remove this hotel from our systems,” the spokesperson added.

On Monday, DHS shared a screenshot of an email sent by management declaring that the hotel “does not allow any ICE or immigration officials to be on its premises.” The hotel management later acknowledged that the individual involved was part of “immigration operations” and announced that a reservation would be canceled.

In response, Hilton’s representative noted that the hotel had issued an apology for its actions.

However, a video recorded by independent journalist Nick Sauter suggested that the Minneapolis franchise was still not adhering to company policies. An employee at the front desk was seen denying reservations to DHS staff and mentioned on camera that he had confirmed with management that the hotel’s policy remained unchanged. “I spoke to the owner of the building and they didn’t say anything had changed,” the employee stated, adding, “It’s just policy.”

Minneapolis has been under significant media scrutiny since late 2025 when reports emerged about millions of taxpayer dollars being misappropriated through a coordinated scheme involving sham nonprofits primarily linked to Somali immigrants. An independent journalist also uncovered numerous fraudulent child care centers benefiting from state funds.

Democratic Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who previously collaborated with former Vice President Kamala Harris during her presidential run, has announced he will not pursue a third term, citing the fraud scandal as a major factor in his decision.

DHS is deploying hundreds of immigration agents to the Twin Cities as the situation becomes more pressing, which means many agents will likely need accommodations in the area.

“Hilton is, and always will be, a place where all are welcome,” a company spokesperson said. “We are also working with all our franchisees to reinforce the standards we uphold across our system to prevent a recurrence of this situation.”