Hotel chains refuse to allow ICE to use rooms as detention centers
Some of the country’s major hotel chains have refused to let their properties be used as makeshift detention centers for the big immigration crackdown.
Marriott and Choice Hotels said they will not allow it if requested as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents started a crackdown on illegal immigration on Sunday.
About 2,000 people with final deportation orders are being targeted and ICE said it expects to run out of space at detention centers.
ICE chief Mathew Albence said hotels were the next option, but face intense opposition across the hospitality industry.
"Our hotels are not configured to be detention facilities, but to be open to guests and community members as well," Marriott said.
"While we have no particular insights into whether the U.S. government is considering the use of hotels to aid in the situation at the border, Marriott has made the decision to decline any requests."
Choice Hotels said it ‘does not believe hotels should be used in this way and will decline any requests to do so.’
Albence said that will only lead to more families being split up.
The chains responded after a petition with 120,000 signatures opposing the plan was delivered to their head offices by activist group Sanctuary DMV.
Sanctuary DMV is also urging other hotel groups like Best Western and Motel 6 to deny requests for hotel space to be used to hold detainees.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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