Reports of ICE Agents at Hyatt Regency Austin Cause Distress, Protests Outside Hotel

Recent reports that Immigrations and Customs (ICE) agents are staying at a Hyatt Regency in Austin have led many people to avoid downtown and its surrounding areas.

According to Kate-Lincoln Goldfinch, an immigration attorney who works in Austin, Texas, and is running for TX House District 50, these reports are credible. ICE agents will allegedly be active at the Hyatt Regency, alongside other downtown hotels for “the coming weeks.”

Lincoln Goldfinch clarified in a social media post that she “only share[s] ICE activity when it’s legit and confirmed.”

“ Stay safe. Avoid downtown if you wanna stay away from ICE activity,” she said.

Where Are These Reports of ICE Agents in Downtown Austin Coming From?

Lincoln Goldfinch did not clarify in her video where she’s receiving information.

Other publications, such as the Austin American Statesman, stated that these reports were alleged and not verified. Hyatt did not respond to the publication's request for comment to confirm or deny these allegations.

Commenters on Lincoln Goldfinch’s social media, as well as protesters and advocacy groups, have claimed that there is “definitely” an ICE presence at the Hyatt Regency. This information is not officially verified. But, iceout.org has made a notice for the report, alongside a screenshot of an anonymous email sharing information about ICE’s presence in the area.

Other groups, like local venue Flamingo Cantina, have stated that there’s a heavy ICE presence downtown and in Austin’s warehouse district. In an Instagram Story, venue representatives added, “They are targeting bars and restaurants, waiting for people to leave the kitchen area and following them home. Rumor is they are staying at the Embassy Suites and Congress for the next 15 days.”

Flamingo Cantina’s description seemingly matches Lincoln Goldfinch’s statements that ICE will be operating downtown as well as iceout.org reports.

How Does the Hyatt Connect to Previous Reports of ICE Agents Staying at Hilton Properties?

Both the Hyatt and Embassy Suites are brands that are managed by Hilton Worldwide. It’s a well-known fact that ICE agents have been booking with a variety of hotel chains as part of their operations. However, the Hilton brand has been heavily scrutinized due to recent actions against one Minnesota hotel that refused to host Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents.

Hilton removed The Hampton Inn Lakeville, a property in Minnesota, from its franchise list after a desk clerk refused to accommodate a DHS agent. Everpeak Hospitality, the company which owned the hotel, issued an apology a day before for canceling prior DHS reservations. But, they refused to follow Hilton's policies, even after creating that statement.

Since then, the company, alongside many of its franchises, has cooperated with ICE agents in various communities. In Bellingham, Washington, protesters urged regional managers to agree to not host ICE agents. Since June 2025 in Los Angeles, protesters have made noise to deliberately disturb sleeping ICE agents, who were staying at Hilton establishments.

Why Is Texas Such a Hotspot for ICE Agents?

One of the reasons that Texas is a hotspot for ICE operations is because the state is cooperating with Immigration and Customs. Early reporting in November 2025 stated that around one out of every four ICE arrests during Trump’s presidency occurred in the Lone Star State. The Texas Tribune estimates that one in 20 Texans are undocumented, and with Abbott’s willingness to allow ICE operations, they have continued throughout the state. By December 2025, ICE agents had arrested 9,100 people in South Texas alone.

Where and When Have Austin’s Anti-ICE Protesters Met?

Since the death of Renee Good, a mother killed in Minnesota this month by an ICE agent, Austin protesters have only increased their efforts to drive ICE out of Texas. These demonstrations have walked in the streets, near city hall, and are even meeting outside the Hyatt Regency to protest ICE's presence within the city.

On Jan. 20, Austin protesters planned to demonstrate outside of City Hall, where they introduced a petition to adapt how Austin’s Police Department reports to the agency. The petition, which received 10,000 signatures, urged city council and Police Chief Lisa Davis to retrain APD. That way, police officers do not report undocumented persons to the federal agency.

Organizations partially created the petition after seeing the detainment and arrest of a Honduran mother alongside her 5-year-old daughter on Jan. 5. The daughter, a U.S. citizen, was separated from her mother after Austin Police turned the family over to ICE.

Demonstrators directly delivered the petition to city council members, Paige Ellis, Ryan Alter, Mayor Pro Tem Vasnessa Fuentes, Mark Siegl, and Zo Quadri. Quadri notably supported the petitioner’s efforts. But, Fuentes stated that the city council may not have the legal scope to stand between APD and ICE.

ICE protesters plan to meet outside the Hyatt Regency Austin every day from 8-10 p.m. Haithem El-Zabri, a spokesperson who is assisting with organizing demonstrations, stated in an Instagram post, “Can you believe the Hyatt is STILL hosting ICE agents!? If we weren’t loud enough last night, we will be tonight! Rain ain’t stopping us.. wear your ponchos or bring umbrellas, as well as any noisemakers! 8-10 [p.m.], meet behind Yeti Sporting Goods.”

Due to bad weather conditions, these protests have since changed location and time, with protesters meeting at Ann and Roy Butler Bike & Hike Trail at 6:30 p.m. But, they will continue each day. Palestine Banner Team, a notable advocacy group that seemingly works with El-Zabri and Watermelon ICE Watch, stated that the protests would continue “every night” until Hyatt stops accommodating ICE agents.

Palestine Banner Team will announce the time for Sunday’s protest on its social media page, @palestine.banner.team.

Update from Mayor Kirk Watson

Austin’s mayor, Kirk Watson, issued a statement on multiple social media platforms addressing current allegations that ICE agents are staying in hotels and targeting warming shelters. In his Saturday evening statement, the mayor said, “The City of Austin is aware of rumors circulating online of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents staging in Austin in preparation for operations here. City officials have been in contact with regional ICE representatives and have been assured that ICE does not have operations focused on Warming Center or Cold Weather Sheltering facilities. Officials have also been told that operations are regular ICE operations and that agents are not coming into Austin from other areas and checking into local hotels.”

But, Austinites replied with their own experience. On Instagram, Austin residents stated they had seen ICE agents near Lady Bird Lake and in the Hyatt Regency. As one Instagram user, Anthony, stated, “I just saw them with my own eyes… They are now staying at the Hyatt Regency Austin next to Ladybird Lake… @kirkpwatson sketch.”

We’ve reached out to the Hyatt Regency Austin via email for comment. We’ve also reached out to Hilton's corporate media email, Goldfinch via TikTok direct message, and @palestine.banner.team via Instagram direct message. El-Zabri was unavailable for comment.