A statement from Hilton representatives indicated that they would sever ties with a hotel in the Minneapolis area after a new video emerged, contradicting prior assurances that federal immigration agents would not be denied rooms.
Hilton’s corporate office said in a statement late on January 5 that the company would remove the hotel from its systems after a video circulated online showing what appeared to be hotel staff again declining to accommodate Department of Homeland Security personnel, despite earlier apologies and corrective statements from the property’s ownership.
Earlier that afternoon, a Hilton representative provided a statement saying, “Hilton hotels serve as welcoming places for all. This hotel is independently owned and operated, and the actions referenced are not reflective of Hilton values. We are investigating this matter with this individual hotel, and can confirm that Hilton works with governments, law enforcement, and community leaders around the world to ensure our properties are open and inviting to everyone.”
That statement came after emails shared by Immigration and Customs Enforcement appeared to show staff at a Hilton-branded Hampton Inn in the Minneapolis suburbs telling individuals associated with DHS reservations that the property would not allow ICE or other immigration agents to stay. The authenticity of the emails has not been independently verified.
Later, Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin posted an update on X saying Hilton had been “directly in touch” with the hotel’s independent ownership, which apologized and said it had taken immediate steps to fix the issue.
Melugin attached a statement from Everpeak Hospitality, the hotel’s owner, that said, “Everpeak Hospitality has moved swiftly to address this matter as it was inconsistent with our policy of being a welcoming place for all… We do not discriminate against any individuals or agencies and apologize to those impacted.”
Assistant Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin questioned that account in a response on X, posting, “I wonder how Everpeak Hospitality has ‘moved swiftly to address this matter’ when @DHSgov and @ICEgov haven’t heard anything from them?”
Hours later, commentator Nick Sortor posted a video he said was recorded at 10:50 p.m. Central time, showing an exchange in which hotel staff repeatedly told him they would not book rooms for DHS agents. The video circulated widely on social media and prompted a sharper response from Hilton’s corporate leadership.
🚨 BREAKING EXCLUSIVE: I went into the Minnesota Hilton who “apologized” for banning DHS agents, and EXPOSED them for CONTINUING to ban DHS agents@HiltonHotels has decided they want the FULL BUDLIGHT treatment at this point.
Hilton’s operator, Everpeak, STRAIGHT UP LIED in… pic.twitter.com/3g97P7okpz
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 6, 2026
In response to the viral video, Hilton company reps issued another statement:
Statement from Hilton on a recent video pic.twitter.com/W8DWUTWD7f
— Hilton Newsroom (@HiltonNewsroom) January 6, 2026
DHS officials have accused the hotel of discriminating against federal law enforcement officers, though the company operates most of its properties as franchises owned and managed independently.
DHS has not announced any formal enforcement action against Hilton or the hotel owner.
The incident unfolded amid increased federal immigration enforcement activity in Minnesota, according to multiple media reports, and has drawn national attention after ICE’s X account posted screenshots of alleged email exchanges, questioning why reservations for agents were canceled.
Both Hilton and industry groups have previously resisted their facilities being used by immigration officials. When Hilton Hotels were reportedly used as immigration detention centers in 2020, the American Hotel and Lodging Association issued a statement stating that hotels are “not intended or equipped to detain people,” while acknowledging that hotels sometimes work with state and federal authorities in other capacities.
Hilton put out a concurrent press release, writing, “This is not activity that we support or in any way want associated with our hotels.”
