Hampton Inn Sign Removed by Crane at Minnesota Hotel After Alleged Refusal to Accommodate ICE and DHS Agents

Lakeville, Minnesota — On January 7, 2026, a crane was used to remove the Hampton Inn by Hilton signage from a hotel in Lakeville, a suburb south of Minneapolis, amid controversy over the property’s alleged refusal to provide lodging to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel.

The incident began earlier in the week when DHS and ICE shared screenshots on social media of emails from the hotel, dated around January 2, 2026, stating that reservations for ICE or immigration agents would be canceled and that the property was “not allowing any ICE or immigration agents to stay.” This occurred during heightened federal immigration enforcement operations in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area, part of the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration and related fraud allegations.

The General Services Administration (GSA) responded by removing the Hampton Inn Lakeville from its approved federal lodging program (GSA FedRooms), which provides discounted rates for federal employees, effectively barring millions of government workers from using the property.

Hilton Worldwide, which franchises the Hampton Inn brand, initially stated that the independently owned and operated hotel had apologized and was resolving the issue, emphasizing that Hilton properties are “open to everyone” and do not tolerate discrimination. However, a viral video posted on X (formerly Twitter) by journalist Nick Sortor on January 6 showed a front desk employee continuing to deny bookings for DHS/ICE personnel, even after the initial apology.

Following the video, Hilton announced it was taking immediate action to remove the hotel from its systems, severing ties with the franchisee, Everpeak Hospitality. The crane removal of the iconic blue Hampton Inn sign — captured in photos shared by outlets like Alpha News and celebrated on social media by ICE with captions like “How it started” vs. “How it’s going” — marked the visible end of the hotel’s association with the Hilton brand.

The property’s phone number appeared disconnected shortly after, and it is unclear who will operate the hotel going forward. Hilton has described itself as a “welcoming place for all,” while DHS officials called the alleged refusal “unAmerican” and discriminatory against law enforcement.

This event has drawn significant attention amid ongoing debates over immigration enforcement, with some viewing it as accountability for perceived anti-law-enforcement bias, while others see it as part of broader political tensions in Minnesota.

Written by Joe Gibson