Here’s what happened.
A growing wave of incidents involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and senior Department of Homeland Security officials is igniting outrage across the country, as private businesses increasingly refuse service to federal law enforcement officers simply for doing their jobs.
From gas stations to hotel chains, multiple reports now show ICE agents and Border Patrol leadership being turned away—raising serious concerns about whether political activism has crossed the line into open discrimination against federal officers enforcing U.S. law.
Gas Station Incident Sparks National Backlash
The most recent flashpoint occurred at a Speedway gas station, where video shared online showed U.S. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino being followed out of the store by an employee who identified himself as a manager.
The footage, recorded by conservative activist Cam Higby, quickly went viral after the employee openly admitted he refused service because he opposed ICE. When asked whether denying service to federal law enforcement might be illegal, the employee dismissed the concern entirely.
Commander Bovino declined to engage publicly during the encounter, but Deputy Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin later confirmed that similar incidents have occurred at multiple gas stations, with activists allegedly targeting agents while they were off duty or conducting routine stops.
Corporate Silence Raises More Questions
Fox News Digital contacted Speedway and its parent company, 7-Eleven, seeking clarification on the incident and company policy. While a corporate employee acknowledged the inquiry and said it would be passed along internally, no public response or statement was issued.
That silence has only intensified criticism, particularly among Americans who believe businesses benefiting from federal protection should not single out law enforcement officers for political reasons.
Hotels Also Refusing ICE Agents
The Speedway controversy follows earlier incidents in Minnesota, where a hotel operating under the Hampton Inn brand reportedly canceled reservations for ICE agents and told them they were not welcome.
In another incident, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was denied access to a building in a Chicago-area suburb when she attempted to use the restroom—an episode that further fueled concerns about hostility toward federal officials.
After public backlash, Hilton and the franchise operator involved issued apologies. Hilton ultimately removed the Minnesota hotel from its system and even ordered the physical removal of its Hampton Inn signage from the property.
Hilton CEO Christopher Nassetta later explained that a separate DoubleTree location housing ICE agents had been closed temporarily due to bomb threats, emphasizing that safety-related closures apply to everyone—not just law enforcement.
Legal Experts: “Just Because You Can Doesn’t Mean You Should”
Zack Smith, a former assistant U.S. attorney and senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation’s Institute for Constitutional Government, said the behavior on display is deeply troubling—even if technically legal in some cases.
Smith argued that targeting law enforcement officers because of political disagreement undermines respect for the rule of law and harms public trust. He noted that similar hostility surfaced during periods of unrest in recent years, when emotions ran high and officers were treated as political symbols rather than public servants.
While businesses may have the legal authority to refuse service, Smith stressed that legality does not equal morality—and that such actions often backfire.
Consumers May Have the Final Say
Rather than legal action, Smith said the most effective response lies with everyday Americans. After the Speedway video spread online, calls for boycotts quickly followed, with many consumers vowing to take their business elsewhere.
Smith suggested that Hilton’s swift corrective actions likely reflected an understanding that millions of Americans—particularly older, law-abiding citizens—will not support companies that single out federal law enforcement officers for discrimination.
As public pressure continues to build, these incidents may serve as a test of whether corporate America chooses political signaling—or respect for the men and women tasked with enforcing the nation’s laws.
