A recent string of incidents where agents from ICE and leaders within the Department of Homeland Security were denied service at various corporate gas stations and hotels has sparked discussions on the legality of such refusals. Cases include ICE agents being turned away from hotels and Border Patrol commanders facing denials at gas stations, initiating a debate on whether these actions represent valid private discretion or unlawful discrimination against federal law enforcement officers executing their duties.
The latest incident took place at a Speedway gas station, where a conservative activist captured video of U.S. Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino being confronted by a person claiming to be the manager. Bovino remained silent during questioning from the activist, while Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin noted that similar confrontations have occurred at various gas stations.
When the activist asked the manager why Bovino was denied service, the response was simply that he didn’t support ICE. The man declined to comment further when asked about the legality of denying service to federal employees, adding, “If that’s the case, I personally don’t care.”
Fox News Digital attempted to reach out to Speedway and its parent company, 7-Eleven, for a comment. An employee indicated they would relay the inquiry but no formal response has been provided.
This incident is part of a broader pattern. At a hotel in Lakeville, Minnesota, ICE agents were repeatedly refused service, leading to the cancellation of their reservation. Secretary McLaughlin described a similar situation where agents were denied entry to restrooms in a Chicago suburb.
After public apologies from Hilton and its franchisee, Hilton took steps to address the matter by removing the hotel from its directory. The CEO of Hilton, Christopher Nassetta, pointed out that another hotel housing ICE officers had to close following a bomb threat, suggesting safety concerns should be viewed separately from the refusal of service based on employment.
Zach Smith, a former U.S. attorney, commented that while businesses might have the legal right to deny service, such actions are practically misguided. He described it as troubling that individuals enforcing federal law face refusals in their daily work, drawing comparisons to past incidents — particularly following the civil unrest in the wake of George Floyd’s death.
“It hurts a lot of businesses,” he said, emphasizing that just because denying service is permissible doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do. He suggested that consumer power might be a more effective response than legal measures, especially after the backlash against Speedway following viral footage of the incident.
Following Bovino’s experience, conservative dissatisfaction with Speedway and its parent company has grown, especially due to the lack of a public statement akin to Hilton’s response. Smith noted that Hilton understood the backlash and took decisive action, indicating they recognize that many customers disapprove of businesses denying service based solely on law enforcement status.
