A row erupted after a MAGA influencer called for the deportation of Indian American hotel owners who refused to provide rooms to immigration enforcement officers, and that even US citizenship should not protect them.Conservative commentator Andrew Branca weighed in on the incident on X after reports emerged that a Hampton Inn by Hilton in Minnesota cancelled reservations made by officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). “These four Indian-American owners of the Hampton Inn in Minneapolis who canceled the reservations for DHS simply because DHS was enforcing immigration law, look, if they’re here on visas, obviously deport them,” Branca said.He added that they should be stripped of their privilege: “But even if they’re naturalized citizens, they should be denaturalized and then deported.”He added that America is no place for those who act against its interests: “When we grant the precious gift of American citizenship to a foreign national, it’s with the understanding that they’re going to act in the interests of the United States, not contrary to those interests.” An X user confronted Branca and said the owners are just practising their rights according to US Constitution: “So deport them because they exercise their first amendment rights? Do you know how insane you sound?”To this argument, Branca replied with 8 words: “Deport them because they are not cultural Americans.”
$15 million hotel bought by four Indian Americans
Public records show the Hampton Inn by Hilton in Lakeville, Minnesota, was purchased last year for $15 million by four Indian American partners through a limited liability company (LLC). The owners are listed as Parmjit Singh, Amanpreet Hundal, Karandeep Nagra and Mohinderjeet Kaur.The controversy began after emails went viral on social media showing hotel staff informing colleagues that reservations made by DHS and ICE must be rejected. One email stated, “We have noticed an influx of GOV reservations made today that have been for DHS, and we are not allowing any ICE or immigration agents to stay at our property.”Hilton confirmed the hotel is independently owned and said the incident does not reflect the company’s values.
Can the owners be deported?
Under US law, only non-citizens can be deported. That means people in the country on a visa or with a green card can be removed if they violate immigration rules or certain laws. Green card holders may face deportation for crimes, immigration fraud, abandoning residency or other serious issues. A naturalised US citizen generally cannot be deported, unless the government first proves their citizenship was obtained unlawfully and a court revokes it through a formal denaturalisation process. In the case of Hampton Hotels, refusing rooms to federal agents is not a crime under US law. Private hotels may legally deny service, unless discrimination is based on protected classes.
