Hilton announced Tuesday it is severing its relationship with a Minnesota hotel after the property drew sharp criticism from the Department of Homeland Security for refusing to allow federal immigration agents to book rooms, a move the hotel chain said violated its standards and values.
In a statement posted on X, Hilton said the independently owned hotel had previously assured the company the issue was resolved. However, Hilton said new evidence raised serious concerns. “A recent video clearly raises concerns that they are not meeting our standards and values,” the company wrote. “As such, we are taking immediate action to remove this hotel from our systems.”
Hilton emphasized that the decision was not optional, adding, “Hilton is — and has always been — a welcoming place for all.”
The move followed the release of a video by conservative commentator Nick Sortor, who visited the Hampton Inn Lakeville Minneapolis late Monday night and attempted to book a room while posing as a DHS representative. According to Sortor, hotel staff confirmed the refusal to house immigration agents was still in effect.
“Even the FRONT DESK manager said he had spoken with the owner shortly before I walked in around 10:50pm, and confirmed the ANTI-DHS POLICY REMAINED IN EFFECT,” Sortor wrote on X. He urged Hilton to take swift action, warning the company that continuing the relationship would come at a cost. “This is an INCREDIBLY dumb battle to choose!” he added.
The hotel in question, the Hampton Inn Lakeville Minneapolis, is independently owned and operated under the management company Everpeak Hospitality. Although it carries the Hilton brand, the property is not directly owned by the hotel giant.
The controversy erupted as business owners and residents in the Minneapolis area have seen an increased federal presence, tied to the Trump administration’s efforts to crack down on illegal immigration, including within the local Somali immigrant community. That enforcement activity has drawn national attention and, in this case, ignited a corporate and political backlash.
The Department of Homeland Security publicly called out Hilton on Monday after agents said their reservations were abruptly canceled. “When officers attempted to book rooms using official government emails and rates, Hilton Hotels maliciously CANCELLED their reservations,” DHS wrote on X.
“This is UNACCEPTABLE,” the department added. “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?”
Everpeak Hospitality responded by saying it “moved swiftly to address” the situation and claimed the refusal was inconsistent with company policy. However, Hilton said by Tuesday that the concerns had not been adequately resolved, prompting the decision to drop the property from its franchise system.
After announcing the split, Hilton said it would also reach out to other hotel owners operating under its brand to reinforce company standards and ensure similar incidents do not happen again. The company made clear that denying service to law enforcement agencies runs counter to its expectations for franchise partners.
The swift action underscores how quickly corporate America can move when a local operator’s decisions threaten a national brand — particularly when federal law enforcement and public safety are involved. For critics, the episode highlighted what they see as a troubling willingness by some businesses to inject politics into basic services. For Hilton, the message was clear: refusing to accommodate federal agents is a line that will not be tolerated.
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