Trump Administration Seeks Answers from 7-Eleven After Incident
The Trump administration is looking for clarity from 7-Eleven’s COO after a confrontation in late January involving U.S. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino. This incident occurred at a gas station in Minneapolis, where service was allegedly refused to Bovino and federal agents.
On February 5, Michael Lynch, the Deputy Secretary of the General Services Administration (GSA), reached out to 7-Eleven’s Chief Operating Officer, Doug Rosencrans, seeking details about any internal investigation into the matter. Lynch highlighted that the federal relationship with 7-Eleven, which operates the Speedway gas station chain, could be at risk.
In his letter, Lynch emphasized that since 7-Eleven locations accept GSA SmartPay vehicle cards for refueling and other authorized purchases for federal vehicles—including those used by the Department of Homeland Security—this issue raises significant concerns. “There are worries about federal vehicle operators gaining access to essential fuel and services,” the letter stated.
A video that gained traction online, recorded by conservative activist Cam Higbee on January 21, depicted Bovino leaving the Speedway station. During this time, a manager could be heard saying, “I don’t support ICE and no one here does.”
The letter also pointed out that the reported refusals might involve both in-store purchases and fuel transactions. The GSA mentions that fleet cards are meant for fuel and maintenance costs for government-leased vehicles and can be used at about 95% of fuel stations across the U.S. and Canada.
It’s worth noting that all non-tactical federal vehicles must be procured through the GSA’s fleet program. Meanwhile, the GSA is also asking about 7-Eleven’s policies and training regarding the acceptance of these fleet cards. This refusal to serve federal agents reflects a broader trend of business owners intertwining their personal political beliefs with their operational practices.
Earlier this year, the GSA removed Hampton Inn Lakeville from its list of approved federal accommodations due to a similar situation where immigration officials were denied service, despite assurances from Hilton management that the matter was resolved.
In a related incident, a McDonald’s in downtown Minneapolis had a sign stating that ICE and CBP agents were unwelcome. Later, the corporate division instructed franchisees to take down the message.
Close to the area where an immigration-related death occurred, another restaurant displayed a sign outright rejecting immigration officials, with workers wearing clothing that carried anti-ICE messages.
As for 7-Eleven, there has been no response to the GSA’s inquiry, though the agency mentioned it might reconsider the partnership involving the fleet program if necessary. In conclusion, the GSA expressed its commitment to maintaining partnerships with entities that support federal operations and indicated that timely cooperation could dictate future program actions.
