Members of the Minneapolis City Council debated Tuesday whether to deny liquor license renewals for two downtown hotels that housed federal immigration agents during a recent enforcement surge.
The discussion follows the conclusion of “Operation Metro Surge,” a large-scale immigration enforcement initiative. During a Thursday press conference, Trump administration border czar Tom Homan said more than 12,000 individuals in the country illegally had been taken into custody as part of the operation.
Hotels Under Scrutiny
Council members raised concerns about the role of the Canopy by Hilton Minneapolis Mill District and The Depot Minneapolis, which are affiliated with Hilton and Marriott International, respectively. Both properties reportedly provided lodging for agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal agencies deployed to the city.
Some council members argued that housing federal agents drew protests and unrest, potentially affecting public safety.
“Do we want to take a moment to do due process and investigate the situation that our constituents throughout the city have raised up as a grave concern or not?” Councilwoman Aurin Chowdhury said during the meeting, according to local media reports.
Labor representatives also weighed in. Wade Luneburg, recording secretary for Unite Here Local 17, told reporters that liquor licenses are a “privilege” that should be reserved for businesses prioritizing public safety.
Protests and Clashes
The enforcement surge and the presence of federal agents in Minneapolis prompted demonstrations, some of which escalated into confrontations. Protesters reportedly targeted hotels suspected of housing ICE, Customs and Border Protection, and Border Patrol personnel.
Local reports also described a “rapid response network” that tracked ICE vehicles and alerted activists to their locations. In some instances, confrontations between protesters and federal agents turned physical. Authorities have linked at least two fatal shootings to clashes connected to rapid-response activity surrounding immigration enforcement operations.
Federal officials have emphasized that the operation was focused on apprehending individuals with criminal records who were in the country unlawfully.
Next Steps
The City Council declined to delay a previously scheduled Thursday vote on the liquor license renewals. Instead, members opted for a one-day staff review before determining whether to approve or deny the licenses.
The debate underscores ongoing tensions in Minneapolis over federal immigration enforcement and the potential for politically motivated weaponization of government against local businesses. While city leaders weigh regulatory options, critics argue that penalizing hotels for complying with federal lodging requests could raise legal and economic concerns.
A final decision on the liquor licenses is expected following the council’s review.
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