Minneapolis City Council weighs liquor license renewals for two downtown hotels linked to ICE stays

Licensing dispute lands at City Hall amid Operation Metro Surge fallout

The Minneapolis City Council is set to decide whether to renew liquor licenses for two downtown hotels after weeks of protests tied to the hotels’ reported role in housing federal immigration officers during Operation Metro Surge.

The licensing action centers on The Depot Minneapolis, a Renaissance Hotel at 225 S. 3rd Ave., and the Canopy by Hilton Minneapolis–Mill District at 708 S. 3rd St. Both properties hold on-sale liquor licenses, which require periodic renewal by the city.

How the issue reached a council vote

On Feb. 4, 2026, the City Council’s Committee of the Whole voted 8–5 to delay action on the two renewals after a proposal to remove them from a larger slate of routine license items. The committee scheduled a public hearing for Feb. 17 and directed that public comment be received and filed as part of the record for each hotel’s license renewal.

City licensing staff indicated the hotels could continue serving alcohol while the renewals remained under consideration, avoiding an immediate interruption in operations.

What the council will consider on Feb. 17

The Feb. 17 Committee of the Whole agenda lists both renewals as separate discussion items, each structured to include public comment followed by council consideration of the renewal application.

• The Depot Minneapolis (Renaissance Hotel): license renewal consideration following receipt of public comment.
• Canopy by Hilton Minneapolis–Mill District: license renewal consideration following receipt of public comment.

Protests, public safety concerns, and legal constraints

The debate has unfolded in the context of highly visible demonstrations at multiple Twin Cities hotels believed to have hosted federal immigration personnel during the enforcement surge. Arrests were reported at some protest events, including a Feb. 5 protest near the University of Minnesota campus outside a hotel believed to be housing federal officers.

During the Feb. 4 committee discussion, some council members raised concerns about legal exposure if the city were to deny renewal without grounds connected to liquor licensing standards. Others argued that a public hearing was necessary to gather and evaluate information from residents and affected stakeholders before any final action.

The Feb. 17 meeting is expected to serve as the primary forum for formal public input on the two renewals before the council determines next steps.

What happens next

The council’s decision could range from renewing the licenses, continuing the matter for further review, or taking other action permitted under city licensing authority. Any outcome will be shaped by the public hearing record and the city’s legal framework governing liquor licensing decisions.