‘They lied. Full of sh**’: Watch hotel continue to ban ICE and DHS from staying there, even AFTER apology, now Hilton gives it the boot
A Hampton Inn in Lakeville, Minnesota, is continuing to forbid federal ICE and DHS agents from staying at its hotel despite apologies Monday from Hilton management that the ban violated its policy of being “a welcoming place for all,” and now Hilton is removing the hotel from its corporate systems.
Just before 11 p.m. Monday night, independent journalist Nick Sortor walked to the front desk of the hotel that made national headlines for canceling reservations of agents for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to see if he could get a room as he proffered himself as a DHS agent.
“We’re not accepting people from Immigration, ICE agents, DHS into our property,” the front desk manager told Sortor. “That’s just per management, ownership.”
“I thought that changed today,” Sortor responded.
The manager stated: “I just talked to the owner of the building, and he didn’t say there had been any changes. So, yeah, it’s just policy.”
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
A spokesperson for Hilton hotels had apologized about the ban on Monday, saying: “This hotel is independently owned and operated, and these actions were not reflective of Hilton values. We have been in direct contact with the hotel, and they have apologized for the actions of their team, which was not in keeping with their policies. They have taken immediate action to resolve this matter and are contacting impacted guests to ensure they are accommodated.”
The specific company that owns the hotel, Everpeak Hospitality, also apologized, indicating: “Everpeak Hospitality has moved swiftly to address this matter as it was inconsistent with our policy of being a welcoming place for all. We are in touch with the impacted guests to ensure they are accommodated. We do not discriminate against any individuals or agencies and apologize to those impacted.
“We are committed to welcoming all guests and operating in accordance with brand standards, applicable laws, and our role as a professional hospitality provider.”
Tricia McLaughlin, assistant U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, seemed incredulous at the corporate statements, as she said on X: “I wonder how Everpeak Hospitality has ‘moved swiftly to address this matter’ when DHS and ICE haven’t heard anything from them?”
I wonder how Everpeak Hospitality has “moved swiftly to address this matter” when @DHSgov and @ICEgov haven’t heard anything from them? https://t.co/FBcFIiL9Ds
— Tricia McLaughlin (@TriciaOhio) January 5, 2026
Sortor did not mince words over the apparent false apology.
“They lied. Full of sh**,” Sortor said, as he did not mince words over the apparent false apology. “Let’s just say they F’d around, and it’s find out time.”
“They almost got a little bit of a pass,” he continued after walking out of the hotel. “You thought they may have learned their lesson.”
“Their talk, it means nothing. You know people were saying, ‘Oh well, no, they said that they’re gonna change their policy.’ They lied. They didn’t do it. So now they’re gonna get Bud Lighted. Congratulations, Hilton.”
He concluded on X: “REVOKE THEIR LICENSE, HILTON, OR IT’S GOING TO COST YOU DEARLY. YOU’VE BEEN WARNED. This is an INCREDIBLY dumb battle to choose!”
Others online commented: “We don’t want words in a press release. We want to know exactly what they did and who has been fired. We also want comped rooms for a later personal stay at any @HiltonHotels worldwide for every affected agent.”
“It’s interesting that the hotel thought they could release a statement condemning discrimination yet keep discriminating and hope that no one would notice. And since the mainstream media would never do the work that Nick Sortor did, they’d probably get away with it too.”
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation was a key player in the Biden mass migration crisis. https://t.co/AbXyiDPVau
— Kimberly “Kim” Wexler MA JD (@KimWexlerMAJD) January 6, 2026
Tuesday morning, Hilton said it was removing the hotel in question from its systems, indicating: “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. As such, we are taking immediate action to remove this hotel from our systems. Hilton is – and always has been – a welcoming place for all.
“We are also engaging with all of our franchisees to enforce the standards we hold them to across our system to help ensure this does not happen again.”
Statement from Hilton on a recent video pic.twitter.com/W8DWUTWD7f
— Hilton Newsroom (@HiltonNewsroom) January 6, 2026
DHS revealed the alleged discrimination Monday on X, posting redacted email messages from the Hampton Inn Lakeville which states: “We have noticed an influx of GOV reservations made today that have been for DHS, and we are not allowing any ICE or immigration agents to stay at our property. If you are with DHS or immigration, let us know as we will have to cancel your reservation.
“Please pass on this info to your coworkers that we are not allowing any immigration agents to house on our property.”
DHS blasted the discrimination: “NO ROOM AT THE INN! @HiltonHotels has launched a coordinated campaign in Minneapolis to REFUSE service to DHS law enforcement.
“When officers attempted to book rooms using official government emails and rates, Hilton Hotels maliciously CANCELLED their reservations.
“This is UNACCEPTABLE. 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?
NO ROOM AT THE INN!@HiltonHotels has launched a coordinated campaign in Minneapolis to REFUSE service to DHS law enforcement.
When officers attempted to book rooms using official government emails and rates, Hilton Hotels maliciously CANCELLED their reservations.
This is… pic.twitter.com/qKMKypGtzi
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) January 5, 2026
Hey @HiltonHotels — why did your team in Minneapolis cancel our federal law enforcement officer and agents’ reservations? pic.twitter.com/xuoBvfcPkV
— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) January 5, 2026
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