Scrutiny intensifies over the status of liquor licenses at two Minneapolis hotels that housed ICE during "Operation Metro Surge."
The Minneapolis City Council are now conducting an expanded review of police calls and incident reports at the canopy by Hilton and the Depot Renaissance Hotel to see if hosting federal teams created a public safety issue.
"It's unprecedented and also gives kind of a playbook to other cities who will be and have already experienced this dynamic of how do you make sure you're holding high standards and expectations for establishments when ICE is occupying your community," Council member Robin Wonsley said.
Activists targeted both of those hotels in downtown Minneapolis following two shootings in January by federal agents that killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
On Tuesday, a Council committee voted 11-2 to look deeper into whether these hotels should have their liquore license taken away or approved with conditions.
"A testifier also shared the concerns about putting liquor into the mix of that shared a lot of worker concerns of unsecured weapons at these hotels specifically," Council member Aurin Chowdhury explained.
A final decision on whether to add strict operating conditions to the licenses is expected when the full council reconvenes this Thursday.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has expressed hesitation on the issue.