GSA Removes Minnesota Hotel from Approved List Due to Refusal to Accommodate ICE

The General Services Administration (GSA) has pulled the Hampton Inn Lakeville in Minnesota from its roster of approved lodging options for federal employees. This decision comes after the hotel declined to host ICE and immigration officials.

Emails shared by the Department of Homeland Security and ICE revealed that the hotel explicitly stated they “do not permit ICE or immigration officials to reside at our facilities.”

GSA Administrator Edward C. Forst indicated that after learning about a canceled reservation for ICE at a local Hilton hotel, the GSA launched an inquiry. They concluded that the hotel was violating lodging program requirements and swiftly removed it from all booking platforms. Forst emphasized GSA’s support for federal law enforcement partnerships.

The GSA, which oversees the operations of federal agencies, appointed Forst, who was confirmed by the Senate in mid-December and sworn in on Christmas Eve, during the Trump administration.

Hotel Stripped of Hilton Branding

The hotel, formerly part of the Hilton brand, had its affiliation rescinded on Tuesday morning, following the release of a video that showed staff refusing entry to immigration officials, despite the hotel’s earlier statement that they do not tolerate discrimination.

This location had been part of a government lodging program called GSA FedRooms, designed to provide compliant accommodations to government and military travelers at or below federal per diem rates. Following the hotel’s refusal to accept federal employees, GSA removed it from all travel systems and suspended both emergency and long-term lodging services at the site.

Sources revealed that last year, the hotel had hosted federal employees for approximately 130 nights.

Hilton’s Response to the Situation

In an initial statement, Hilton highlighted that the Lakeville property is independently managed and stated they were acting quickly to address the issue and contact affected guests. However, a viral video posted by a freelancer contradicted Hilton’s assurances by showing staff continuing to deny entry to federal employees.

Hilton further clarified that videos indicating the hotel’s failure to adhere to their standards prompted immediate action to remove it from their system, reinforcing their commitment to being a welcoming place for everyone.

Currently, Hampton Inn Lakeville seems to have been removed from Hilton’s website, signaling a significant fallout from this incident.