Hilton Hotel Workers' Brave Stand Against Trump's Immigration Agents Was a Sudden, Sudden Snuffing of Hope. When the US Department of Homeland Security posted on its official X account that Hilton Hotels had refused to serve ICE agents using official government emails and rates, many welcomed it as a victory for workers who stood up against the Trump administration's deportation machine.
However, behind DHS's triumphant post lies a more nuanced story of resistance from workers at a specific Hilton franchise. A coordinated campaign by the multibillion-dollar company was never launched, but a small group of activists and hotel staff in Minneapolis did something extraordinary. They took a stand against ICE agents who were terrorizing their communities.
When ICE agents attempted to book rooms using official government emails and rates, they were maliciously cancelled by the front desk staff at the Hampton Inn Lakeville, which is independently owned and operated by Everpeak Hospitality, a Hilton brand affiliate. The incident was sparked by protests in Minneapolis as well as other cities nationwide, where far-right groups had been inciting violence against immigrants.
In response to the ICE agents' actions, the hotel management company issued statements condemning the front desk staff's actions and reaffirming their willingness to serve the immigration agents. The Hilton brand also released a statement saying that they have been in contact with the hotel and apologized for any actions taken by their team, which was not in line with their policies.
But it seems the story didn't end there. A video posted online by far-right influencer Nick Sortor appeared to show one of the front desk staff members confirming that the hotel would continue to deny rooms to immigration agents. In response, Hilton cut ties with the hotel.
Despite the setback, the brave stand taken by the hotel workers and activists in Minneapolis is a testament to the power of resistance and solidarity in the face of oppression. When faced with Trump's authoritarian tactics, many businesses have been quick to comply, but this incident shows that even small actions can be significant.
When we think about it, this isn't just an incident between a company and its employees, or one hotel and another. It's an opportunity for us to recognize our own responsibility as consumers and citizens to support organizations that are standing up against oppression and advocating for human rights.
The Intercept has long been committed to exposing authoritarianism around the world and holding those in power accountable. We can't do it without your help, however.
However, behind DHS's triumphant post lies a more nuanced story of resistance from workers at a specific Hilton franchise. A coordinated campaign by the multibillion-dollar company was never launched, but a small group of activists and hotel staff in Minneapolis did something extraordinary. They took a stand against ICE agents who were terrorizing their communities.
When ICE agents attempted to book rooms using official government emails and rates, they were maliciously cancelled by the front desk staff at the Hampton Inn Lakeville, which is independently owned and operated by Everpeak Hospitality, a Hilton brand affiliate. The incident was sparked by protests in Minneapolis as well as other cities nationwide, where far-right groups had been inciting violence against immigrants.
In response to the ICE agents' actions, the hotel management company issued statements condemning the front desk staff's actions and reaffirming their willingness to serve the immigration agents. The Hilton brand also released a statement saying that they have been in contact with the hotel and apologized for any actions taken by their team, which was not in line with their policies.
But it seems the story didn't end there. A video posted online by far-right influencer Nick Sortor appeared to show one of the front desk staff members confirming that the hotel would continue to deny rooms to immigration agents. In response, Hilton cut ties with the hotel.
Despite the setback, the brave stand taken by the hotel workers and activists in Minneapolis is a testament to the power of resistance and solidarity in the face of oppression. When faced with Trump's authoritarian tactics, many businesses have been quick to comply, but this incident shows that even small actions can be significant.
When we think about it, this isn't just an incident between a company and its employees, or one hotel and another. It's an opportunity for us to recognize our own responsibility as consumers and citizens to support organizations that are standing up against oppression and advocating for human rights.
The Intercept has long been committed to exposing authoritarianism around the world and holding those in power accountable. We can't do it without your help, however.
and thinking about how funny it is when animals try to make music. Like, have you ever seen a dog try to play the drums? It's hilarious! 
I think what really got me about this story is how one small act of defiance by a group of hotel staff sparked a huge reaction from both Hilton and DHS. It's crazy to think that the front desk staff at the Hampton Inn didn't even have to say much for their actions to be seen as a major victory... just not serving ICE agents was enough 
. But what's also interesting is how this incident shows that we, as consumers, have some power too - if we support companies that stand up against oppression, it can make a real difference 
. I'm definitely more likely to choose hotels and brands that take a stand on issues like this from now on 
. It's like the big Hilton company wasn't even trying to support their staff, just covered up what happened and said sorry later on. 
The fact that one of their staff members got exposed online by some far-right dude and then they cut ties with that hotel is pretty harsh 
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. And I don't blame them for being cautious when it comes to speaking out about it online.
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. Sorry I'm so late to the party 
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. The front desk staff at that Hampton Inn showed some serious courage by standing up against ICE agents, but the whole situation was handled so clumsily 
. Hilton's response just comes across as a cheap attempt to save face and maintain their brand image 
. I wish they'd taken a firmer stance in support of the hotel staff and against ICE's oppressive tactics 
. This just makes me wonder how many other businesses are quietly compromising their values for the sake of convenience or fear 
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I'm so inspired by what happened at the Hampton Inn Lakeville! 
It's like they literally stood up for their community and didn't back down even when ICE agents were being super aggressive towards them 
. And you know what's crazy? Most hotels would probably just roll over, but not this one 
. We're the future, guys! And we need to keep pushing for human rights and equality 
.
i was thinking about this whole thing and how one small group of ppl can make a huge difference, you know? like, yeah the hilton brand released a statement apologizing for what happened but still, its not like they took a stand against trump or anything. and now the hotel in minneapolis is all cut off from hilton 
. And let's be real, if we as consumers don't hold companies accountable, who will? 
It's not just about supporting organizations that stand up for human rights, it's about being aware of the products and services we use every day 
. So, next time you're booking a hotel room or buying from a brand, ask yourself: are they standing up for what's right? 
. i'm still trying to wrap my head around why hilton cut ties with the hampton inn lakeville after the video came out. it feels like they were just trying to sweep it under the rug 
. but at the same time, i gotta give credit to those hotel workers for taking a stand and not backing down even when faced with all that hate and intimidation from far-right groups 
I mean, on one hand, I totally get why they wanted to stand up against ICE agents who were terrorizing their communities - that's some crazy stuff right there. But on the other hand, I'm still not sold on the whole "coordinated campaign" thing... 
. Hilton kind of messed this up by cutting ties with the hotel after they spoke out, but I still think it's a huge step forward for those workers.
I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole situation... like, I get why the hotel staff were trying to protect their community, but at the same time, Hilton's reaction feels kinda shady 
That's just low 
. On one hand, I'm super proud of those hotel workers for standing up for what's right and fighting against oppression. We should be supporting organizations like them, not just buying their brand without a second thought 
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