Hampton Inn in Minnesota Faces Controversy Over ICE Refusal
Photos released on Thursday showed a crane removing the sign from the Hampton Inn in Minneapolis. This hotel has come under scrutiny for allegedly denying accommodations to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials.
The hotel, previously affiliated with Hilton, lost its brand status on Tuesday morning after a video surfaced, where staff continued to refuse entry to immigration officials. This was despite the hotel’s earlier apology and a statement claiming, “our accommodations are open to all and we do not tolerate discrimination in any form.”
Images depicted the sign being taken down from its pole in the hotel’s parking lot. As of Thursday, Hilton had not responded to a request for comment. It remains unclear who currently manages the property, as the phone number listed for the hotel appeared to be disconnected.
The General Services Administration (GSA) announced that it has removed the Hampton Inn in Lakeville from its list of approved accommodations for federal employees, following reports of refusal to serve ICE agents.
An email from the Department of Homeland Security and ICE indicated that the hotel “does not permit ICE or immigration officials to reside at our facilities.” GSA Administrator Edward C. Forst remarked, “After we received notice that the hotel canceled a reservation for ICE, our investigation showed that the property violated government lodging program requirements. Hence, it has been removed from our programs.”
The GSA is responsible for managing essential functions of federal agencies, and the Hampton Inn was part of a government lodging program called GSA FedRooms.
Hilton Hotels responded initially by stating that the Hampton Inn Lakeville is independently owned and operated, and that the property officials were working to rectify the situation, reaching out to affected guests to ensure accommodations.
However, reports from freelance journalist Nick Souter surfaced, indicating that front desk staff still refused service to federal employees, which contradicts Hilton’s statements.
In a statement, Hilton expressed concerns about the recent videos, stating, “They do not meet our standards and values. That’s why we’re acting promptly to remove this hotel from our systems. Hilton strives to be a welcoming place for all.”
