A powerful coalition of activist groups in Los Angeles has declared an economic war on the local hospitality industry, directly targeting what they call the ‘hidden infrastructure’ of US immigration enforcement.
The group, which includes the prominent advocacy organisation Chinga La Migra, has published a damning ‘Do Not Stay’ list. This blacklist identifies specific hotels across the city that are allegedly contracting with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to house migrant detainees.
The strategy is clear: hit the hotels where it hurts—their revenue. By urging tourists, business travellers, and conference organisers to boycott these establishments, activists aim to sever a critical link in ICE’s operational chain. The move transforms every potential guest into a conscious participant in the protest, turning tourism into a tool of political resistance.
The Leaked List and Corporate Backlash
The campaign gained explosive momentum after a leaked internal document, purportedly from ICE itself, was made public. This list detailed over 70 establishments, from budget inns to well-known mid-market chains, that have provided lodging. This isn't merely about providing rooms for ICE agents; the allegations point to hotels being used as temporary detention facilities for migrants, including families and children, often under shrouded contracts.
In response to the public naming and shaming, the corporate backlash has been swift and severe. Major hotel chains like Hyatt, IHG (Holiday Inn), and Hilton have found themselves in the eye of the storm. They have issued frantic statements distancing their corporate brands from the actions of individual franchise owners, highlighting the complex and often opaque nature of franchise agreements.
A New Front in the Immigration Battle
This initiative represents a significant tactical shift in the long-standing protest against ICE policies. Instead of focusing solely on government buildings, activists are applying pressure to the private companies they accuse of enabling and profiting from the agency's operations.
The ‘hotel strategy’ has already proven effective elsewhere. A sustained campaign in Seattle successfully pressured local officials to effectively ban ICE from using hotels for detention purposes. LA activists are now hoping to replicate that success on a much larger scale, aiming to cripple ICE’s ability to operate within the city and setting a precedent for other major metropolitan areas to follow.
The message to the hospitality industry is unequivocal: profiting from immigration enforcement is a decision that carries significant financial and reputational risk.
