Hilton Faces Backlash Over Hotel’s Denial of Service to Federal Agents
A Hilton-affiliated hotel in Lakeville, Minnesota, is under fire after journalist Nick Sortor revealed that the establishment continues to refuse rooms to federal immigration officers. This revelation starkly contradicts Hilton’s earlier assertions that it had severed ties with the property due to past discriminatory practices. The hotel, operated by Everpeak Hospitality under the Hampton Inn brand, had supposedly been removed from Hilton’s booking system after a series of incidents involving canceled reservations for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
In a recent video, Sortor recorded his attempts to obtain a room, revealing that staff members still have access to Hilton’s internal systems. “I came back here, walked in, tried to buy a room, they asked me what my Hilton Honors number was,” Sortor noted. “So they haven’t been cut off from the system.” Although online bookings appear restricted, Sortor’s experience indicates that walk-in customers can still connect through Hilton’s network. His findings raise serious questions about Hilton’s commitment to transparency. “YOU LIED, @HILTON,” he declared on social media.
This is not the first controversy surrounding the Hampton Inn in Lakeville. The initial uproar began in late December 2025, when officials reported their hotel reservations being canceled after staff discovered the bookings were linked to immigration enforcement. This coincided with Operation Metro Surge, a nationwide crackdown targeting fraud in federal aid programs—operations that heavily involved the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin described the hotel’s actions as “unAmerican.” Despite Everpeak claiming to act in good faith, they failed to contact DHS regarding the cancellations, as they asserted in statements. DHS produced emails from the hotel revealing a pattern of discrimination, stating that they were canceling reservations based on links to immigration work.
The situation prompted the General Services Administration (GSA) to intervene. After reviewing evidence, GSA Administrator Edward C. Forst announced that the hotel had been removed from federal lodging programs due to discriminatory practices. He stated, “GSA unequivocally supports our federal law enforcement partners.”
While Hilton claims the Lakeville hotel is no longer part of its system, Sortor’s latest video suggests that these assurances might be superficial. Although online bookings via Hilton’s website are blocked, the persistence of internal reservation access indicates a lack of follow-through on disciplinary measures. Sortor highlighted this inconsistency in a tweet, saying, “This is TWICE NOW they tried to say they reprimanded the foreigners who own the hotel. We CANNOT take this stuff at face value.”
Previously, Sortor documented a hotel employee’s refusal of service to a guest associated with homeland security, further contradicting Everpeak’s claims of reform. The employee openly stated, “We’re not accepting people from Immigration, ICE agents, DHS into our property. That’s just our management, ownership.” Such direct evidence opposes the public assurances from the hotel chain that corrective actions had been implemented.
The broader context involves federal efforts to address serious criminal activity related to misuse of federal nutrition assistance, particularly within the Somali immigrant community in Minnesota. During a recent crackdown, DHS reported over 1,000 arrests, targeting individuals with significant criminal records, including offenses related to violence and fraud. These operations necessitated overnight accommodations for agents engaged in extensive investigations.
In response to the incidents at Hampton Inn Lakeville, both Hilton and the GSA distanced themselves from Everpeak Hospitality. While Hilton has emphasized the independent nature of its franchises, Everpeak expressed regret and committed to following laws and hospitality standards. However, the lack of ongoing communication from both Hilton and Everpeak regarding Sortor’s latest findings continues to raise eyebrows.
No statements addressing these claims have emerged from Hilton as of this time. Sortor’s ongoing examination suggests that Hilton may not have sufficiently acted to ensure that discriminatory practices are fully resolved at the hotel. The information at hand indicates that internal systems associated with Hilton are potentially still active, presenting both legal and ethical issues for the company and raising uncertainty about the hotel’s future compliance with federal guidelines.
According to GSA guidelines, hotels must not discriminate against federal personnel to remain eligible for government booking systems. Misrepresentation of their compliance poses serious questions about how accountability is enforced in politically charged environments.
The Hampton Inn Lakeville had previously hosted DHS officials for approximately 130 nights in 2023 before the backlash began. However, the current status of federal bookings remains unclear, with DHS now seeking lodging partners willing to support law enforcement duties without obstacles.
As Sortor’s video continues to garner attention, skepticism surrounding corporate accountability in sensitive issues seems to be growing. The case serves as a reminder that public statements from large corporations, particularly in distressing scenarios, may not translate into meaningful actions or change.
“They’re cooked,” Sortor concluded on social media, indicating that Hilton and its franchisee could face significant consequences if federal and watchdog agencies pursue this issue further. The outcome remains uncertain, but the scrutiny on Hilton’s actions—and the operational environment for ICE and DHS agents—could have lasting implications in the days ahead.
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