Motel 6: We Will Not Share Guest Lists With Immigration Agents

It didn't take long for Motel 6 to make it clear that sharing guest lists with agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement is not company policy. The chain released a statement Thursday saying that their Phoenix outlet had been acting on their own when they did that.

"Over the past several days, it was brought to our attention that certain local Motel 6 properties in the Phoenix-area were voluntarily providing daily guest lists to Immigration and Customs Enforcement," they said in a statement.

"As previously stated, this was undertaken at the local level without the knowledge of senior management. When we became aware of it, it was discontinued."

The statement followed a report by Phoenix New Times that disclosed the practice. (For more local news, subscribe to the Phoenix Patchto receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts).

The paper included the story of a man, asked for identification before being allowed to rent a room, handed over a Mexican voter ID card.

Hours later, three ICE agents showed up at his door and he is now being held.

The paper said that based on court records, they were able to determine that ICE agents had made at least 20 arrests in the area between February and August of this year.

The report led to a firestorm, including a Twitter campaign - #boycottMotel6 - and pressure on longtime spokesman Tom Bodett.

In a tweet, Bodett retweeted the company's statement, adding that he had had faith this was not company policy.

Photo via Motel 6