# So the ICE agents were booking at the Hilton?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-ice-agents-were-booking-at-the-hilton/1026419>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [January 7, 2026, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-ice-agents-were-booking-at-the-hilton/1026419 "2026-01-07T01:45:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\
**Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-ice-agents-were-booking-at-the-hilton/1026419/1 "2026-01-07T01:45:16Z")

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Isn’t that a bit high end for federal agents? Or is Hilton not as expensive as I think?

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**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\
**Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-ice-agents-were-booking-at-the-hilton/1026419/2 "2026-01-07T01:49:26Z")

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They have to stay within set limits on hotels. During off seasons, some premium hotels are happy to book in Feds at that rate- they get people who will pay and not "tear out the walls’.

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**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\
**Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-ice-agents-were-booking-at-the-hilton/1026419/3 "2026-01-07T01:52:05Z")

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Also, large organizations will often have negotiated a rate for employee travel that’s lower than what the general public would pay.

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**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\
**Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-ice-agents-were-booking-at-the-hilton/1026419/4 "2026-01-07T01:57:35Z")

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Even if their unofficial motto is “Badges? We don’t need no stinkin’ badges!”?

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**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\
**Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-ice-agents-were-booking-at-the-hilton/1026419/5 "2026-01-07T02:09:16Z")

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The boring FQ answer is that Hilton, the company, owns a ton of hotel brands (like DoubleTree, Embassy Suites, Homewood, and [others](https://www.hilton.com/en/brands/)).

In this case it was a Hampton Inn, which has subsequently been removed from Hilton’s portfolio: [https://www.reuters.com/world/us/hilton-removes-minneapolis-hotel-that-cancelled-reservation-immigration-agents-2026-01-06/](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/hilton-removes-minneapolis-hotel-that-cancelled-reservation-immigration-agents-2026-01-06/)

The prices there were $100-$200: [HAMPTON INN® LAKEVILLE MINNEAPOLIS - Lakeville MN 20851 Keokuk 55044](https://www.hotelplanner.com/Hotels/331167/Reservations-Hampton-Inn-Lakeville-Minneapolis-Lakeville-20851-Keokuk-Ave-55044#content)

It was just a small local hotel franchisee whose own staff made a judgment call. Corporate Hilton heard of it and brought down the hammer. No way they were going to risk their federal (and MAGA) business over a single location choosing to stand up for its values.