It appears some big corporations still haven’t learned the lesson: attacking law enforcement carries serious consequences. The latest example comes from DoubleTree by Hilton in St. Paul, Minnesota, which is facing a conservative firestorm after allegedly booting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from their hotel rooms amid subzero temperatures.
The controversy erupted on Sunday, January 18, when Fox News reporter Bill Melugin shared a photo of a notice reportedly left for ICE personnel staying at the downtown DoubleTree. The letter claimed the hotel was “temporarily closing” due to “heightened public safety concerns” in St. Paul and canceled the agents’ reservations effective by noon that day.
The notice went on to offer assistance with alternative accommodations or a refund for the last night’s stay, framing the move as a “gesture of goodwill.” Melugin noted, however, that both the DoubleTree and the Intercontinental St. Paul were turning away ICE personnel, citing safety threats to staff stemming from the ongoing unrest in the city.
This isn’t happening in a vacuum. ICE is currently cracking down on illegal immigration and widespread fraud in Minneapolis-St. Paul, including large-scale scams revealed by citizen journalists, such as the Somali daycare fraud scandal. Local officials, including Gov. Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey, have long defended sanctuary city policies, putting federal law enforcement in direct tension with the city’s leadership.
Conservatives reacted quickly and angrily online. Many vowed never to stay at Hilton properties again. “The Hilton is still doubling down on this BS! Never staying @HiltonHotels ever again!” one commenter wrote. Another chimed in, “Well I promise you this, I will never stay at a @HiltonHotels again!” A third simply declared, “Bye Bye Doubletree Hotels…Hilton Hotels AGAIN!”
Some went further, calling for federal action against the chain. “Bring @Hilton CEO Christopher Nassetta in for a chat. There is a pattern here,” one user demanded. Another suggested leveraging federal authority: “Can Trump use the War Powers Act to insist the hotels stay open? Seems like that would be a good flex of federal muscle. The agents do need a place to stay — especially since more will be coming.”
This episode underscores the ongoing tension between left-leaning businesses and law enforcement. By prioritizing public relations over protecting officers carrying out their federal duties, Hilton has sparked outrage from conservatives nationwide, illustrating that wokeness can carry real-world consequences.
Federal agents tasked with upholding immigration law are already stretched thin, operating in hostile urban environments while under constant threat. For a major hotel chain to effectively toss them into the freezing streets of Minneapolis-St. Paul—under the guise of “safety concerns”—is seen by many as both disrespectful and irresponsible.
As the Trump administration and conservative activists continue to support ICE’s crackdown on illegal immigration and fraud, Hilton’s decision may backfire economically and politically. Boycott threats, social media backlash, and calls for federal scrutiny demonstrate that wokeness at the expense of law enforcement does not go unnoticed—or unpunished—by the public.
