Minneapolis Refuses To Renew Liquor Licenses For Hotels That House ICE Agents

The Minneapolis City Council, in an 8-5 vote, refused to renew liquor licenses for two hotels accused of housing ICE agents, delaying action to seek greater ‘public input’ in the process. A public hearing for residents to complain about the hotels is scheduled for February 17.

The hotels have been targets of protests because federal immigration officers were believed to be staying there during the immigration enforcement surge that brought 3,000 federal agents to Minnesota, when an agent killed Renee Good.

Even the city’s attorney told the council that (1) the hotels complied with liquor licensing laws, (2) are eligible for renewal, and (3) deny the licenses on the basis of housing federal employees is impermissible and they’d need other grounds.

If there’s any plausible argument, it’s that protestors don’t like the hotels and that the protestors themselves create a dangerous situation where on-premises alcohol could become a problem. Protests broke windows and graffitied the Depot Renaissance, and forced their way into the Canopy through an alley entrance before leaving.

The five council members voting against the delay suggested license renewals shouldn’t be used as a proxy fight over who stays at a hotel, that it’s discriminatory, and creates legal liability. City licensing staff said the hotels can keep serving alcohol in the meantime – the current licenses effectively remain usable pending final council action.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minneapolis_City_Council

Members
The council is made up of 13 members. The DFL holds 12 seats, while one member (Robin Wonsley) sits as an independent democratic socialist. New members took office January 2026, and in their organizational meeting, they re-elected Elliott Payne (ward 1) as council president and chose Jamal Osman (ward 6) as vice president.[60]

Ward Name Party Additional affiliation(s) First elected Neighborhoods
1
Elliott Payne DFL Mpls for the Many[61] 2021 Audubon Park, Columbia Park, Como, Holland, Logan Park, Marshall Terrace, Mid-City Industrial, Northeast Park, Waite Park, Windom Park
2
Robin Wonsley Democratic Socialists of America Mpls for the Many[61] 2021 Cedar-Riverside, Como, Prospect Park, Seward, University
3
Michael Rainville DFL All of Mpls[3] 2021 Beltrami, Bottineau, Downtown East, Downtown West, Marcy Holmes, Nicollet Island/East Bank, North Loop, St. Anthony East, St. Anthony West, Sheridan
4
LaTrisha Vetaw DFL All of Mpls[3] 2021 Cleveland, Folwell, Jordan, Lind-Bohanon, Shingle Creek, Victory, Webber-Camden
5 Pearll Warren DFL All of Mpls[62] 2025 Harrison, Hawthorne, Jordan, Near North, North Loop, Sumner-Glenwood, Willard-Hay
6
Jamal Osman DFL Mpls for the Many[61] 2020 Cedar-Riverside, Elliot Park, Phillips West, Seward, Stevens Square, Ventura Village
7 Elizabeth Shaffer DFL All of Mpls[62] 2025 Bryn Mawr, Cedar-Isles-Dean, Downtown West, East Isles, Kenwood, Loring Park, Lowry Hill, Loring Heights
8
Soren Stevenson

DFL DSA[63]Mpls for the Many[61] 2025 Bancroft, Bryant, Central, Field, King Field, Lyndale, Northrop, Regina
9
Jason Chavez DFL DSA[1]Mpls for the Many[61] 2021 Central, Corcoran, East Phillips, Longfellow, Midtown Phillips, Powderhorn Park
10
Aisha Chughtai DFL
DSA[1]
Mpls For the Many[2]
2021 East Bde Maka Ska, Lowry Hill East, South Uptown, Whittier
11 Jamison Whiting DFL All of Mpls[62] 2025 Diamond Lake, Hale, Keewaydin, Northrop, Page, Tangletown, Wenonah, Windom
12
Aurin Chowdhury DFL
DSA[1]
Mpls For the Many[2]
2023 Cooper, Ericsson, Hiawatha, Howe, Keewaydin, Longfellow, Minnehaha, Morris Park, Standish
13
Linea Palmisano DFL All of Mpls[3] 2013 Armatage, East Harriet, Fulton, Kenny, Linden Hills, Lynnhurst, West Maka Ska

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamal_Osman_(politician)

Feeding Our Future connection
On February 17, 2025, federal prosecutors presented evidence connecting Osman’s former nonprofit, Stigma-Free International, to the large-scale fraud case centering Feeding Our Future.[16] Prosecutors alleged that Osman, his wife Ilo Amba, and two others, founded the nonprofit as a shell company before transferring it to others who were able to commit fraud under the nonprofit’s name. Amba operated a Feeding Our Future food site, which received more than $450,000 in reimbursements from the program.[17][18][19] Neither Osman nor Amba has been charged with any crime.[20]

About a month after turning Stigma-Free over to new directors, Amba incorporated another nonprofit, Urban Advantage Center. Urban Advantage Center was shut down for civil violations in a settlement with state attorney general Keith Ellison, who alleged that Amba created a “sham” charity to enrich herself.[21]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.