Melugin Comments On Alleged Letter Issued To DHS Agents
Tensions surrounding federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota intensified again this weekend after a major downtown hotel in St. Paul canceled reservations for multiple U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, citing escalating safety concerns tied to ongoing protests in the Twin Cities. The move underscores how fallout from the January 7 shooting of activist Renee Good is continuing to ripple beyond the streets and into private businesses and public accommodations.
According to reporting from Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin, the St. Paul Downtown DoubleTree by Hilton notified ICE agents on Sunday that their rooms were being canceled as the hotel temporarily closed due to what it described as “heightened public safety concerns.”
In a letter sent to affected guests, the hotel emphasized that the decision was made out of concern for the safety of guests, staff, and the surrounding community. The notice stated that the closure would take effect at noon on January 18, 2026, and offered to either refund the final night of the stay or cover the first night at a new hotel at the same rate.
Developing story - ICE and border patrol agents are now kicked out of this Hilton Doubletree hotel in St.Paul due to safety concerns according to the hotel , we just confirmed with the hotel that they are indeed closing at this time , other guests are allowed to stay through… pic.twitter.com/4Zw05o7G2J
— Jorge Ventura Media (@VenturaReport) January 18, 2026
Despite the language suggesting a full closure, reporting on the ground suggested a more limited action. Daily Caller News Foundation reporter Jorge Ventura confirmed that the hotel was closing to ICE agents, recording footage of a truck leaving the garage, while noting that non-government guests were allowed to remain and complete their stays. The selective nature of the cancellations has drawn attention amid broader accusations that private entities are being pressured to distance themselves from federal law enforcement.
The decision follows days of intense protests in Minneapolis that erupted after Good was fatally shot during a confrontation with an ICE agent. Anti-ICE demonstrators, joined rhetorically by Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, have demanded that the agency leave the city entirely. Protest groups have since organized patrol-style warnings alerting others when ICE agents are spotted in the area, further raising concerns about officer safety.
The hotel controversy is not the first of its kind. Reports surfaced earlier this month that another Hilton-affiliated property had refused to allow ICE agents to book rooms after noticing a spike in government reservations. While Hilton’s corporate office stated that the hotel was independently owned and operated, the company emphasized that it maintains working relationships with federal law enforcement agencies.
The unrest coincides with a major federal immigration enforcement operation launched by the Trump administration in response to reports of widespread fraud involving Somali immigrants. The operation was expected to involve up to 2,000 federal agents deployed to Minneapolis. That effort became a flashpoint on January 7, when Good was killed after accelerating her vehicle during an encounter with ICE, triggering days of protests and political backlash.
As demonstrations continue and speculation grows that President Donald Trump could invoke the Insurrection Act, Mayor Frey has reiterated his support for protesters resisting ICE’s presence.