Defying Border Patrol: Convenience Store Manager Refuses Entry to Agents in Kenner
A convenience store manager in Kenner refused entry to a group of Border Patrol agents who approached the store on Saturday. The manager, Wayne Davis, captured the incident on video as he taunted the agents through the locked door. The agents, wearing Border Patrol vests, tried to enter the store but were unsuccessful. Davis explained that he locked the door as the agents approached and began filming the encounter on his cell phone. He continued to taunt the agents through the door, even raising his middle finger at them.
The incident took place at Brother’s convenience store in Kenner, where Davis works as an assistant manager. He recounted how he saw two unmarked SUVs pull into the parking lot and agents wearing Border Patrol vests emerge from the vehicles. Davis locked the door from behind the counter as the agents tried to open it. He mentioned that one of the customers in the store mistook the agents for ICE personnel. Despite the agents' attempts to enter, Davis stood his ground and refused them entry.
Davis's actions were in response to the presence of the Border Patrol agents at the store. He expressed his determination to protect the rights of the business and prevent the agents from carrying out their duties on the premises. Davis emphasized that businesses have the right to control access to their property and can keep individuals off their premises. He also mentioned that agents would require a specific warrant to enter private property and make arrests inside a building.
The video captured by Davis showed the agents and Border Patrol commander, Gregory Bovino, eventually leaving the scene and driving away in their SUVs. Davis bid them farewell with a wave and a parting expletive. Despite the confrontation, Davis remained firm in his stance and asserted that he would not allow the agents to overstep their boundaries at his store. The Department of Homeland Security was contacted for a statement regarding the incident but had not responded by Monday night.
In conclusion, the incident at the convenience store in Kenner highlighted the manager's refusal to allow Border Patrol agents entry and his determination to protect the rights of the business. Davis's actions, captured on video, showcased his defiance towards the agents and his commitment to upholding the rights of the store. The encounter underscored the importance of understanding the rights of businesses during immigration enforcement operations and the limitations on federal agents' authority to enter private property without a specific warrant.