US Border Patrol Groups Face Scrutiny Over Sale of Controversial Challenge Coins Commemorating Urban Enforcement Operations

United States Border Patrol agents are currently generating funds through the sale of commemorative "challenge coins" and various merchandise that celebrate last year’s intensive wave of immigration enforcement operations across several major American cities. These fundraising efforts are being conducted by nonprofit organizations that list federal Border Patrol facilities as their primary business addresses in Internal Revenue Service (IRS) filings. Investigations into these groups reveal that at least two of these organizations utilize dedicated U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) email addresses for their commercial transactions and communications, raising significant questions regarding the intersection of private nonprofit activities and the use of government resources.

The merchandise in question features provocative imagery and slogans. One prominent coin currently for sale is branded with the phrase "NORTH AMERICAN TOUR 2025" on its obverse side. The coin includes the official acronyms for the U.S. Border Patrol alongside "FAFO," a shorthand for "fuck around and find out." This specific phrase, while gaining broader cultural usage, was notably popularized by the far-right organization the Proud Boys and has been frequently invoked by various officials within the Trump administration. The center of the coin is adorned with depictions of tactical gear, including a gas mask, a riot control smoke grenade, and a pepper ball launcher—tools typically associated with high-intensity civil unrest and enforcement actions.

The reverse side of the coin features what appears to be a portrait of Gregory Bovino, the recently retired commander-at-large for the Border Patrol, shown with his arm raised in a salute. Accompanying the portrait is the text "COMING TO A CITY NEAR YOU!" The coin lists seven specific metropolitan areas that were the focus of federal enforcement surges during the 2025 calendar year: Chicago, Los Angeles, Memphis, Phoenix, Portland, Charlotte, and Atlanta.

The Role of Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) Organizations

The "North American Tour" coin is being marketed by Willcox Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR), a nonprofit entity that received tax-exempt status from the IRS during the Biden administration. Public records indicate that the organization’s registered address is identical to that of the Willcox Border Patrol Station in Arizona. Despite the group’s use of a dedicated CBP email address, inquiries regarding the appropriateness of the merchandise and the use of government facilities for its sale have remained unanswered by the organization.

Under Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations, employees of the agency—the parent department of the Border Patrol—are permitted to establish private, not-for-profit employee associations. These groups, often referred to as MWRs in a nod to the U.S. military’s "Morale, Welfare, and Recreation" programs, are intended to foster camaraderie, host social events like holiday parties and retirement celebrations, and provide financial assistance to agents’ families during periods of hardship.

However, DHS Management Directive 112-06 stipulates that while officially recognized groups may use government property for fundraising and incorporate the agency’s name or logos into merchandise, they must obtain formal, advance approval from the agency. This policy is designed to ensure that any branded materials maintain the professional standards of the federal government and do not imply an official endorsement of controversial or political messaging.

Intellectual Property and Branding Controversies

The Willcox MWR is not the only entity engaged in these sales. The SDC BK5 MWR, another registered nonprofit based out of a government facility in Chula Vista, California, has listed over 200 products on its website. Among these is a "Chicago Midway Blitz" challenge coin, shaped like a gas mask and functioning as a bottle opener. This coin commemorates "Operation Midway Blitz," a high-profile immigration enforcement surge that took place in the fall of 2025.

The "Chicago Midway Blitz" coin has drawn sharp criticism from Illinois lawmakers. A spokesperson for Senator Dick Durbin issued a statement condemning the merchandise, stating that the operations celebrated by the coins caused profound "pain and suffering" in immigrant communities. The statement further alleged that Border Patrol employees appear to be using federal resources to promote "disturbing" items that politicize the agency’s enforcement actions.

In addition to political concerns, the groups are facing potential legal challenges regarding intellectual property. One coin, titled "Operation Charlotte’s Web," utilized imagery from the classic children’s book Charlotte’s Web, depicting characters in police uniforms. Following the discovery of the item, HarperCollins Publishers issued a statement identifying the coin as an "unauthorized use" of their intellectual property and announced intentions to issue a cease-and-desist letter.

Furthermore, the Casa Grande Station MWR in Arizona and the SDC BK5 MWR have both marketed "Funko Pop" style coins featuring agent caricatures. A representative familiar with Funko, the company behind the popular vinyl figures, confirmed to investigators that these products were not sanctioned or official collaborations, suggesting a broader pattern of intellectual property infringement within these employee-run organizations.

A History of Controversial Challenge Coins

The emergence of the 2025 "tour" coins is the latest in a series of incidents involving offensive or unauthorized challenge coins within the Border Patrol. While "challenge coins" are a long-standing tradition in military and law enforcement circles—used to build morale and commemorate service—they have frequently become a flashpoint for controversy when they depict aggressive or derogatory imagery.

Chronology of Border Patrol Coin Controversies:

• 2019: "Keep the Caravans Coming" – Reports surfaced of an unofficial coin circulating among agents in California and Texas. The coin depicted a Border Patrol agent bottle-feeding a baby while a parade of migrants carrying a Honduran flag marched in the background. The imagery was widely seen as mocking the humanitarian crisis at the border. Government officials at the time stated the coin had no official authorization.
• 2022: Haitian Migrant Incident – A coin appeared for sale on eBay featuring a real-life image of a Border Patrol agent on horseback grabbing a Haitian migrant by the shirt. The image, which had already sparked a national outcry and a CBP Office of Professional Responsibility investigation, was condemned by then-CBP Commissioner Chris Magnus. Magnus stated that such items "have no place in a professional law enforcement agency."
• 2025-2026: The "North American Tour" – The current controversy involves coins that celebrate domestic urban enforcement operations using aggressive tactical imagery and slogans like "FAFO." Unlike previous instances where the source was often anonymous, these coins are being sold by registered nonprofits operating out of federal stations.

Official Response and Policy Revisions

In response to the current controversy, CBP spokesperson Hilton Beckham stated that the agency is aware of the MWR groups and their activities. Beckham noted that these nonprofits have existed under multiple previous administrations and had received "authorization to conduct limited commercial activities on CBP-occupied property."

However, the agency has stopped short of confirming whether the specific designs for the "North American Tour" or "Midway Blitz" coins were ever vetted by the CBP Publication and Branding Review Board. This board is tasked with overseeing the use of the agency’s seal and branding to ensure all merchandise is professional and appropriate.

Beckham emphasized that "CBP takes its branding and recognition policies seriously" and revealed that the agency is currently in the process of updating its internal policies and procedures regarding MWR organizations. This suggests a potential tightening of oversight to prevent the sale of merchandise that could be perceived as unprofessional or politically charged.

Broader Implications and Public Trust

The sale of these coins has reignited a debate over the culture within federal immigration enforcement agencies. Critics argue that the celebration of "operations" in American cities—complete with imagery of riot gear and "find out" slogans—contributes to a perception of the Border Patrol as a militarized force rather than a civilian law enforcement agency.

Civil rights advocates have expressed concern that these items undermine community trust, particularly in the cities listed on the coins. When federal agents appear to be "touring" domestic cities to conduct enforcement actions, and then memorializing those actions with tactical-themed souvenirs, it can create a chilling effect in immigrant-heavy neighborhoods.

The fact that these activities are tied to tax-exempt nonprofits operating from government desks adds a layer of ethical complexity. While the funds may go toward benevolent causes like retirement parties or hardship relief, the method of raising those funds—through the commodification of enforcement actions that disrupted communities—remains a point of significant contention.

As the Department of Homeland Security reviews its oversight of employee associations, the focus remains on where the line should be drawn between private morale-building and the unauthorized use of the federal government’s image to promote aggressive or politically sensitive messaging. For now, several of the most controversial items have been removed from the MWR websites following media inquiries, but the underlying questions regarding agency culture and accountability persist.