Hilton Worldwide ICE lodging controversy

Hilton Worldwide has supported Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during the second Trump administration by allowing federal agents to stay in its hotels. This has sparked protests, including the occupation of one of their hotels in New York City which resulted in dozens of arrests.

Background

These paragraphs are an excerpt from Hilton Worldwide.[edit]

Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. is an American multinational hospitality company that manages and franchises a broad portfolio of hotels, resorts, and timeshare properties. Founded by Conrad Hilton in May 1919, the company is now led by Christopher J. Nassetta. Hilton is headquartered in Tysons, Virginia, United States.

Lodging of ICE officers

In January 2026, Hilton withdrew franchise status from a Minneapolis franchisee that sought to prevent United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from staying in their hotel.[1]

Financial advice expert Ramit Sethi organized a boycott of Hilton properties and asked his fans to cancel their reservations.[2] Minnesota residents also protested several times late at night outside Canopy by Hilton and Graduate by Hilton properties where a large number of ICE officers were reportedly staying, playing drums and making noise to protest the officers' presence in their city.[3][4] Similarly, civil rights attorneys organized a campaign to have Hilton Honors members cancel their accounts in protest of Hilton, accusing the company of being complicit in ICE's actions.[5]

Protests

These paragraphs are an excerpt from Killing of Alex Pretti.[edit]

On January 24, 2026, Alex Jeffrey Pretti,[6] a 37-year-old American intensive care nurse for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, was shot multiple times and killed by two United States Customs and Border Protection officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The incident occurred amid widespread protests against Operation Metro Surge, especially following the killing of Renée Good on January 7 by a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent.

  • Protesters in the Tribeca hotel (top left)
  • Protesters chant outside the hotel (top right)
  • NYPD Strategic Response Group blocks protesters outside while police escort arrestees from Tribeca hotel to jail truck (bottom row)

On January 27, 2026, three days after the killing of Alex Pretti, dozens of protesters in New York City occupied the lobby of a Tribeca Hilton hotel.[7][8][9][10][11] Protesters alleged federal immigration agents had previously lodged there.[7]

More than 100 protesters entered the hotel on Sixth Avenue near Canal Street at about 6pm wearing black T-shirts with anti-ICE slogans.[8] Protesters from a separate anti-ICE rally gathered outside to show support[8] and police surveillance drones circled overhead.[11] At 6:35pm, officers entered the lobby and warned protesters to leave or face arrest.[8] Many protesters left, and reporters were forced to leave the lobby.[8] About 50[8] to 70[10] protesters remained and were arrested. At 7:30pm, the NYPD Strategic Response Group began making arrests, lifting protesters off the floor, zip tying their hands, and bringing them to a waiting bus.[8]

Protests remained outside during and after the arrests.[8] They chanted "Which Side Are You On?"[10] Others held signs and banners saying "Abolish ICE" and "ICE out of New York," or banners with pictures of people who were killed by federal immigration agents.[11] One organizer for the protest said "they're [not just] taking people off the streets [...] but killing them blatantly in broad daylight with no due process."[7] A former Minneapolis resident in the crowd said "this feels different. This feels on the precipice of it being a lot more scary."[7] Mayor Zohran Mamdani praised the protesters for peacefully exercising their rights and the police for their presence through a spokesman.[8]

References

  1. ^ Mangan, Dan (2026-01-06). "Hilton Hotels removing Minneapolis franchise location after it again denied DHS booking". CNBC. Retrieved 2026-01-07.
  2. ^ "'Kudos to any company who...': Indian-origin entrepreneur on Hilton Hotels refusing room to ICE officers in Minneapolis". The Times of India. 2026-01-08. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2026-01-08.
  3. ^ "Hundreds protesting outside downtown Minneapolis hotel where ICE officers are believed to be staying". kare11.com. 2026-01-09. Retrieved 2026-01-10.
  4. ^ Skluzacek, Josh (2026-01-14). "Anti-ICE protests continue with demonstrations at Graduate hotel, Whipple Federal Building". KSTP.com 5 Eyewitness News. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  5. ^ Gellis, Cathy (2026-01-08). "Dear Hilton: Lose My Number". Techdirt. Retrieved 2026-01-12.
  6. ^ "Live update: State and federal officials exchange blame for events leading to Alex Pretti's shooting". NBC News. January 26, 2026. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  7. ^ a b c d Finley, Louis (January 27, 2026). "Anti-ICE protest inside Tribeca Hilton leads to dozens of arrests". Spectrum News NY1. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i Shanahan, Ed; Bensimon, Olivia (January 27, 2026). "Dozens Arrested After Anti-ICE Protest at a Manhattan Hilton". The New York Times. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  9. ^ "Anti-ICE protest breaks out at Tribeca hotel; at least 40 people arrested: sources". ABC7 New York (WABC-TV). January 27, 2026. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  10. ^ a b c Gustafson, Spencer; DiLorenzo, Anthony (January 27, 2026). "Anti-ICE protesters arrested after NYC hotel lobby takeover: Police". PIX11. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  11. ^ a b c Ocomartun, Ronan (January 27, 2026). "Thousands of New Yorkers gather in Union Square Park over the weekend to protest ICE". The New School Free Press. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
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