Core Viewpoint - The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) criticized Hilton Hotels for canceling reservations made by DHS officers due to their immigration enforcement work, leading to a 2% drop in Hilton's share price following the public backlash on social media [2][3]. Group 1: Incident Details - DHS reported that officers' reservations were abruptly canceled by a Minneapolis Hilton hotel, which they claimed was a coordinated effort to refuse service to law enforcement [2][3]. - Emails from Hilton indicated that the hotel would not allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or immigration agents to stay, citing concerns over government reservations linked to immigration work [4][5]. Group 2: Hilton's Response - Hilton stated that the actions of the specific hotel do not reflect the company's values, emphasizing that their hotels are welcoming to all and that they are investigating the matter with the individual hotel [6]. - The company highlighted that most of its properties are independently owned and operated, which may lead to variations in service and policies across locations [7]. Group 3: Context of the Incident - The incident occurred amid a broader crackdown by DHS on alleged fraud in Minnesota, with reports indicating that over $9 billion may have been fraudulently obtained through Medicaid programs since 2018 [8]. - The crackdown could involve approximately 2,000 agents and officers from ICE and Homeland Security Investigations, indicating a significant federal presence in the Twin Cities area [8].
Hilton shares fall after DHS says Minneapolis hotel cancelled reservation due to immigration enforcement