A new front has emerged in the ongoing battle over immigration enforcement: budget hotels. Across the United States, activists are aggressively targeting establishments believed to be housing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, while right-wing groups simultaneously pressure hotels refusing service to federal law enforcement.
Rising Tensions at Hotel Chains
The conflict is particularly intense at franchise locations within major chains like Hilton and Marriott. These independently owned properties, often run by immigrant entrepreneurs, find themselves caught in the middle of escalating protests. Activists employ tactics such as loud, disruptive demonstrations outside hotels, including whistling, drumming, and banging pots and pans into the night. More extreme actions include taking over hotel lobbies and mass-canceling reservations to disrupt operations.
Activist Pressure and Organized Boycotts
Groups like the Sunrise Movement are openly coordinating these efforts, aiming to financially pressure hotels into refusing ICE agents. According to the organization’s executive director, Aru Shiney-Ajay, the goal is to demonstrate that supporting ICE carries greater economic risk than any potential benefit. This strategy relies on public shaming, organized boycotts, and the deliberate disruption of hotel bookings.
Counter-Pressure from Right-Wing Groups
The situation is further complicated by conservative influencers who actively call out hotels perceived as refusing service to ICE agents. This creates a backlash from a different segment of the population, adding another layer of pressure on hotel owners.
This escalating conflict highlights the deep polarization surrounding immigration enforcement, and the growing willingness of both sides to directly target businesses perceived as complicit in their opponent’s agenda. The financial implications for small hotel owners, particularly those who are themselves immigrants, remain a significant but often overlooked consequence of these actions.
