Buc-ee’s Owner Refutes Baseless Social Media Claims About ICE Donations

Unfounded social media allegations targeting popular convenience store chain Buc-ee’s have been firmly denied by the company, highlighting growing concerns about misinformation in the digital age.

Several Instagram accounts recently claimed that Buc-ee’s founder and owner, Arch “Beaver” Aplin III, made a $1 million donation to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). These posts, which appeared on accounts including “floridafoos” and “mexicanworldstarfoo,” called for consumers to boycott the beloved Texas-based chain.

However, the allegations appear to be fabricated. The social media posts provided no evidence, sources, or documentation to substantiate their claims. When reached for comment by Chron.com, a Buc-ee’s spokesperson was unequivocal: “The claim is entirely unfounded. Neither Beaver nor Buc-ee’s has made any donations to ICE.”

This incident reflects a troubling trend of unverified claims spreading rapidly across social media platforms, potentially causing reputational damage to businesses and individuals before facts can be established. The situation is further complicated by advances in artificial intelligence technology, which can make fabricated content increasingly difficult to distinguish from legitimate information.

While private citizens and organizations can legally make donations to federal agencies like ICE, such contributions must undergo a formal review process before acceptance, according to information available on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website. No public records indicate any such donation from Aplin or Buc-ee’s.

For those interested in verifying political donations, the Federal Election Commission maintains public records of contributions to political candidates and campaigns. The FEC database (fec.gov) provides transparency regarding Aplin’s actual political contributions, though these are distinct from donations to federal agencies.

Buc-ee’s, known for its massive convenience stores featuring extensive food options, clean restrooms, and quirky beaver mascot, has developed a cult following since its founding in Texas in 1982. The chain has expanded across the southern United States in recent years, opening locations in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, and Tennessee, with additional stores planned in Colorado, Mississippi, Missouri, and Virginia.

The company’s rapid growth and popularity have made it a significant player in the convenience store industry. With stores typically spanning over 50,000 square feet and offering hundreds of fuel pumps, Buc-ee’s has transformed the traditional convenience store model into a destination shopping experience.

Media literacy experts point to this case as an example of why consumers should approach unverified social media claims with skepticism. Dr. Jennifer Grygiel, a social media expert and associate professor at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications, has previously noted that “viral misinformation can cause real-world harm to businesses and individuals before fact-checkers can intervene.”

Digital literacy advocates recommend that consumers verify information through multiple reliable sources before accepting claims as fact, particularly those that appear designed to provoke emotional responses or call for specific actions like boycotts.

As social media platforms continue to grapple with the challenge of misinformation, this incident serves as a reminder of the responsibility both content creators and consumers bear in ensuring that information shared online is accurate, properly sourced, and presented with appropriate context.