Two St. Paul hotels — the DoubleTree St. Paul Downtown and the InterContinental St. Paul Riverfront — canceled ICE reservations and temporarily closed, citing heightened safety and security concerns. The closures, first reported by Fox's Bill Melugin, follow a series of anti‑ICE protests in Minnesota after the shooting death of Renee Goode, some of which turned confrontational. The Department of Homeland Security has deployed additional personnel to the area, and both hotels said they are helping guests find alternate accommodations.
Two St. Paul Hotels Cancel ICE Bookings and Temporarily Close Citing Safety Concerns
Two downtown St. Paul hotels — the DoubleTree St. Paul Downtown and the InterContinental St. Paul Riverfront — canceled reservations for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel and temporarily closed their properties, citing heightened public safety and security concerns.
The developments were first reported Sunday by Fox News reporter Bill Melugin, who obtained a letter from the DoubleTree informing ICE agents that their rooms had been canceled and that the hotel would be closed for several days. The notice said the action was being taken “out of care for you, our team members, and the surrounding community.”
The DoubleTree, operated by Hilton, said its staff would assist affected agents in finding alternate accommodations. As of Monday morning, the hotel still appeared closed and did not answer phone inquiries placed by Mediaite.
The InterContinental St. Paul Riverfront issued a separate statement saying it would be closed for several days because of “elevated safety and security concerns.” The temporary closure began on Sunday; a hotel employee told Mediaite the property would not accept reservations through at least Wednesday. The InterContinental also said it was contacting guests to offer accommodations at other nearby properties.
“We are taking this step out of care for you, our team members, and the surrounding community,” the DoubleTree notice read.
The cancellations come amid a wave of anti‑ICE protests across Minnesota following the recent shooting death of Renee Goode. Several demonstrations have escalated into confrontations; media reports indicate at least one incident in which protesters physically interfered with an ICE operation.
Federal authorities have increased their presence in the Twin Cities area. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said additional personnel were deployed to support operations in the region as unrest continued into the weekend. Protesters also reportedly disrupted a church service on Sunday after accusing the pastor of collaborating with ICE.
These hotel closures follow an earlier controversy this month when a Minneapolis Hilton property declined to house ICE agents, a decision that drew criticism from some elected officials and federal authorities.
What to watch: Whether hotels in the area resume normal operations this week, how DHS adjusts its deployments, and whether local officials and community leaders can reduce tensions and restore public safety.
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