Hilton has removed a Minnesota hotel from its “system” after refusing to accommodate federal immigration enforcement agents.
The Hampton Inn by Hilton Lakeville Minneapolis made national headlines on Monday after the Department of Homeland Security reported that a Hilton hotel in Minneapolis refused to accommodate immigration enforcement officials.
Hampton Inn operates as one of the Hilton Hotels & Resorts brands, and the hotel in Lakeville Minneapolis is independently operated, according to Hilton.
Hilton issued a statement Monday saying it had been in touch “with the hotel, and they have apologized for the actions of their team,” adding that refusing accommodation to a particular group is “not in keeping with their policies.”
However, after publication of a viral video where a hotel employee appeared to maintain the original “policy” of refusing immigration enforcement officials, Hilton responded.
“The independent hotel owner had assured us that they had fixed this problem and published a message confirming this. A recent video clearly raises concerns that they are not meeting our standards and values,” the Hilton statement reads.
“As such, we are taking immediate action to remove this hotel from our system. Hilton is—and has always been—a welcoming place for all.”
On Tuesday morning, Hampton Inn by Hilton Lakeville Minneapolis no longer appeared on the Hilton hotel search platform, and the hotel’s website generated an “error” message.
The video in question was filmed by conservative influencer Nick Sortor, who walked into the lobby of the Hampton Inn by Hilton Lakeville Minneapolis and asked if he could reserve 10 rooms at a government rate.
The man at the front desk asked which agency he was affiliated with, and Sortor replied “Department of Homeland Security.”
“So, we’re not accepting people from immigration, ICE agents, DHS into our property – it’s just per management, ownership,” the man told Sortor.
When Sortor inquired if that policy had changed, the hotel employee told him, “Ah, I just talked to … the owner of the building and he did not say there had been any changes,” adding, “it’s just policy.”
The video received over 2 million views on X in a matter of hours and prompted Hilton to issue a statement on the “recent video.”
