Minneapolis City Council Delays Liquor Licenses for 2 Hotels Hosting ICE Agents [View all]

https://truthout.org/articles/minneapolis-city-council-delays-liquor-licenses-for-2-hotels-hosting-ice-agents/

Minneapolis City Council Delays Liquor Licenses for 2 Hotels Hosting ICE Agents

Residents have shared stories of abusive actions by off-duty agents at the hotels.

By Chris Walker , TRUTHOUT
Published February 6, 2026

A committee within the Minneapolis City Council has delayed the renewal of liquor licenses for two hotels in the city’s downtown area, citing concerns that agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are staying at the hotel during the Trump administration’s ongoing “Operation Metro Surge” immigration raids.

The “Committee of the Whole” (a committee that includes every member of the city council) met on Tuesday with the goal of discussing liquor license renewals for dozens of businesses throughout Minneapolis. More than 100 licenses were renewed, but renewals for the two hotels in question — Hilton Minneapolis-Mill District and The Depot Minneapolis — were stalled until the next meeting later this month, on February 17.

The vote was 8-5 in favor of delaying the renewals.

The delay does not halt liquor operations at those locations for the time being, but it does allow for more discussion on whether their licenses should be revoked. Council members in favor of the delay said their decision was based on comments they received from constituents, who have expressed concerns about ICE agents’ activities in and around the hotels, including nuisance complaints and drunk driving by off-duty agents.

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(That’s correct. Hit them where it hurts.)