Some urge Motel 6 boycott
Report: Valley hotels gave guest lists to ICE officials
Elected leaders and hospitality-industry workers called for a boycott of Motel 6 on Friday after a report surfaced that two Phoenix-area locations provided daily guest lists to immigration-enforcement officials.
They said the boycott should last until the employees involved are fired.
Standing outside a Motel 6 in west Phoenix — where guest names were reportedly provided to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers — several dozen people, including leaders of the Latino caucus at the state Legislature, held a press conference to demand the company take swift action.
They said Motel 6’s statements vowing a change in corporate policy aren’t enough.
“‘The actions of the employees across the street are reprehensible,” said state Rep. Mark Cardenas, D-Phoenix, who represents the area. “We’re here to demand that the employees responsible for this be terminated immediately. Until that happens, we will call for a boycott of Motel 6.”
Earlier this week, Phoenix New Times reported that a review of court records showed ICE officers made 20 arrests of people suspected of being in the country illegally at two Motel 6 locations in Phoenix between February and August.
The report stated employees at the locations, both corporate-owned, said it was standard practice to provide guest lists to ICE officers each morning.
In a statement released Friday, the Texas-based company said it learned “over the past several days” that some of its motels in the Phoenix area were voluntarily providing daily guest lists to ICE officers.
“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 company said.
The company will send a directive to 1,400 locations stating employees are prohibited from voluntarily providing guest lists, and conduct a review of current practices that could lead to new company-wide guidelines.
“Protecting the privacy and security of our guests are core values of our company. Motel 6 apologizes for this incident and will continue to work to earn the trust and patronage of our millions of loyal guests,” the statement read.
But many in Phoenix’s Latino community say Motel 6’s response isn’t enough to reverse the harm inflicted on immigrant families.
Several speakers said the company should provide monetary compensation to the 20 families who have members that now face deportation proceedings because of its employees’ actions.
“We are going to fight back,” said Viri Hernandez, director of the Center for Neighborhood Leadership, a pro-immigrant advocacy group. “And we’re going to make sure our economic power is not going to you. So for our community, clear message: It’s time to boycott Motel 6.”
Motel 6 did not immediately return a request for comment on the demands for terminations made at the press conference.
Republic reporter Chris Coppola contributed to this article.