Crane Removes Sign from Hotel after Controversy
On Thursday, images emerged of a crane taking down a sign from a Hampton Inn hotel near Minneapolis. This action followed accusations that the hotel had refused to accommodate U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and immigration officials.
This particular hotel, previously branded with Hilton, lost its affiliation with the chain on Tuesday. This decision came after a video showed hotel staff denying entry to immigration officials, despite the hotel’s earlier apology and claims that it does not tolerate discrimination.
The photos revealed a sign being removed from its post in the hotel parking lot.
As of Thursday, Hilton had not responded to a request for comments. The current operating status of the hotel remains uncertain. When I attempted to call the phone number associated with the property, it seemed to be disconnected.
Earlier this week, the General Services Administration (GSA) announced that the Hampton Inn in Lakeville would be taken off the approved accommodations list for federal employees.
Emails disclosed by the Department of Homeland Security and ICE indicated that the hotel had a policy against allowing ICE or immigration officials at its facilities.
GSA Administrator Edward C. Forst commented on the investigation into the hotel’s actions, stating that they found the hotel to be in violation of government lodging requirements, leading to its prompt removal from federal programs. He expressed the agency’s support for federal law enforcement.
The GSA is responsible for managing the basic functions of federal agencies and had included the hotel in a government lodging initiative known as GSA FedRooms.
In an earlier announcement, Hilton pointed out that the Hampton Inn Lakeville is managed independently, and that property officials were working quickly to address the issue and reach out to affected guests.
However, a viral video shared on X by journalist Nick Souter showed staff still denying entry to federal employees, which contradicted Hilton’s statements.
Hilton later remarked, “Recent videos clearly raise concerns that the hotel is not living up to our standards and values.” They emphasized that the company has always aimed to be a welcoming environment for everyone.
