Tim Walz withdraws from Minnesota gubernatorial race amid scandal
Tim Walz has come under fire for his handling of allegations of massive fraud in Minnesota’s social services programs.
The Department of Homeland Security has accused Hilton Hotels of canceling a Minneapolis hotel reservation made by a Minnesota immigration law enforcement official as the Trump administration investigates possible fraud in the state.
“There are no rooms available at the inn!” DHS said in a social media post about X. “Hilton Hotels Launches a Coordinated Campaign to Deny Service to DHS Law Enforcement in Minneapolis.”
Hilton said in a statement to USA TODAY that the hotels in question are independently owned and operated and the actions taken do not reflect the company’s values.
“We have contacted the hotel directly and apologized for the violation of team policy,” the statement said. “They are taking immediate action to resolve this issue and are contacting affected guests to ensure accommodation. Hilton’s position is clear: Our properties are open to everyone and we do not tolerate discrimination in any form.”
Everpeak Hospitality, which operates the hotel, said in a statement that it “addressed this issue quickly as it violates our policy of being a welcoming place for all.”
“We are reaching out to the affected guests to ensure they are accommodated. We do not discriminate against any individual or entity, and we apologize to the affected guests,” the statement said. “We are committed to welcoming all guests and operating in accordance with our brand standards, applicable laws and our role as a professional hospitality provider.”
Screenshots shared by DHS on social media show hoteliers at the Hampton Inn in Lakeville, Minn., about 40 miles from Minneapolis, refusing reservations to enforcement agents because of its affiliation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. DHS said the employees booked the rooms using official government emails and rates.
The email address and name have been redacted, but the screenshot reads: “Today, we have noticed an influx of reservations for GOV for DHS purposes. We do not allow ICE or immigration officers to reside at our facility.” “If you work for DHS or Immigration and Customs Enforcement, please let us know as we need to cancel your reservation.”
The screenshot also says, “Please inform your colleagues that we do not allow immigration officers to reside on our premises.”
“This is unacceptable,” DHS said in a social media post.
The Trump administration said it is fighting allegations of fraud involving taxpayers in Democratic-led Minnesota. The Biden administration also investigated fraud, including theft from the Medicaid program, leading to dozens of arrests and convictions.
Federal prosecutors have charged more than 80 people with involvement in the scheme since 2022, most of them Somali-Americans. At least 60 suspects were convicted.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Minnesota has the largest number of people of Somali descent. The population is estimated to be between 60,000 and 80,000.
President Donald Trump has seized on the scandal in recent weeks to criticize his opponent, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, as his 2024 Democratic vice presidential candidate. The president also criticized the Somali community in the state, at one point calling them “trash” in comments criticizing local officials as racist and un-American.
White House press secretary Caroline Levitt said in late December that the administration was considering denaturalizing the Somali-American person in Minnesota responsible for the fraud, a move aimed at stripping U.S. citizenship from people who illegally obtained tax money intended for social services.
Contributor: Christopher Kang
