Minneapolis hotels that housed ICE are at risk of facing consequences from elected officials, as it appears that “political retaliation is the official position …”
(Video Credit: CBS News)
Last week, border czar Tom Homan announced Operation Metro Surge had reached its conclusion and that the hundreds of federal immigration agents that were deployed to the Twin Cities would be heading home or to other areas with need. After offering about as much hospitality as a pit of vipers, the Minneapolis City Council appeared poised to take action against those who had opened their doors to federal agents, threatening the liquor licenses of hotels.
Having already dealt with vandalism, harassment, and wanton destruction by anti-ICE agitators who roamed the streets in search of the lodgings of those present in the city to enforce federal immigration laws, liquor license renewals for the Canopy by Hilton and The Depot hotels are now in doubt.
“We believe that a liquor license is a privilege and that privilege should be reserved for businesses who keep the public safety in mind,” Unite Here Local 17 hospitality union member Wade Luneberg expressed in a comment to the council, arguing against the renewals in contrast with another union member arguing “misinformation” was at play.
“Claims that these facilities are contracting with ICE or overpouring liquor to agents are false and deeply damaging,” said Joan Soholt.
While some members of the council disagreed with delaying reapproval, resulting in an 8-5 vote in favor of delay, Minneapolis City Council Chair Aurin Chowdhury argued “due process” was a focus, as a separate vote, 11-2, was held in favor of holding a one-day investigation with findings due on Thursday.
“I think we’re following past precedent in doing this. Like the whole, if we were just taking up an automatic — saying this is revoked without any due process, I think one can make that argument. But this is a due process step,” Chowdhury told CBS News when asked about concerns the council was politicizing the liquor license process.
During the meeting, Minneapolis City Council member Robin Wonsley expressed her intent to follow through with more actions as she praised her peers for establishing “kind of a playbook to other cities who will be and have already experienced this dynamic” to hold businesses accountable, “when ICE is occupying your community.”
🚨 Minneapolis City Council Member Robin Wonsley (D) is pushing to delay liquor license renewals for hotels that house ICE, calling it a “playbook” for cities nationwide.
But Democrats continue to blame their failing business climate on Trump.
Beyond parody. pic.twitter.com/3tKLWdimmp
— Dustin Grage (@GrageDustin) February 17, 2026
Despite the claims from the council in favor of using the liquor license renewal process as a tool of accountability in radical opposition to the rule of law being followed in Minnesota, the city’s managing attorney, Quinn O’Reilly, addressed the disconnect between the action and the reality in Minneapolis.
“No, as we advised previously, there needs to be a connection between licensed activity and identifying concerns,” O’Reilly said at the hearing. “So who stays at the hotel, there’s no nexus between the license activity, which is the serving of alcohol, and the activity that we are concerned with.”
Ahead of the final determination from the city council, social media reactions sounded off on the apparent position of both the local lawmakers and the Democrat Party writ large, seemingly to use retaliation to penalize those with whom they disagree.
It’s the official position of the democrat party.
— Mrs. G (@JanetteA5280) February 18, 2026
There are standards and venue requirements for approval or renewal of a liquor license, and the guest list from the hotel isn’t one of them!
Pure political corruption.
— FBB (@FactBasedBanter) February 17, 2026
The people who call other people fascists are doing fascist stuff again
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) February 17, 2026
I would truly love if a bunch of businesses decided to pull out of the Twin Cities entirely as a response.
If I were a business owner and had to worry about hurting the City Council’s little feefees, I wouldn’t want to do business there.
— Auburn du Nord (@AuburnduNord) February 16, 2026
So let me get this straight, government officials are withholding licenses/permits for businesses that are in opposition to their political agenda? Hmmmm I think there is a word for this
— Drea (@DreaMGriff28) February 18, 2026
Oh @HarmeetKDhillon @AAGDhillon is going to have a field day with this one!
🍿🍿🍿🍿😎😎😎 pic.twitter.com/TfxAvvKuzd
— msbrats_corner (@CornerMsbrats) February 18, 2026
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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