After ICE Arrest, Owner of Trump Burger Faces Deportation
Roland Mehrez Beainy, a Lebanese immigrant who began operating the Trump Burgers mini-chain in 2020, has been accused of overstaying his visitor's visa, which expired in February 2024, according to the Guardian. As a result, the 28-year-old was arrested by immigration officials in May.
Beainy has also been accused of having an assault charge on his record and orchestrating a fake marriage in order to gain permanent residency — members of his own family called it a
'sham designed to game the system,' according to the New Republic. The Department of Homeland Security says there's no proof that Beainy and the woman he allegedly tried to secure legal status through ever lived under the same roof.
In a statement provided to Fox, ICE said that, under the Trump administration, it's 'committed to restore integrity to our nation's immigration system by holding all individuals accountable who illegally enter the country or overstay the terms of their admission. This is true regardless of what restaurant you own or political beliefs you might have.'
Beainy is calling the allegations against him '90 percent untrue' and has his immigration hearing scheduled for November 18, 2025.
Burgers are cooked during lunch at Trump Burger. Brett Coomer
So, while it doesn't look like the political theater behind Trump Burger is going to work in Beainy's favor, nothing is a guarantee. Trump is known to help friends and supporters, even going as far as pardoning the rapper Kodak Black, who was granted release when he was serving time for making a false statement to buy a firearm.
Ever the busy man, Beainy is fighting immigration proceedings while still owning Trump Burgers in Flatonia, Kemah, and Houston, and is also embroiled in legal battles over the chainlet. There's one involving the landlord at the Kemah location where there's an accusation of an unlawful takeover. Beainy is also battling with Iyad Abuelhawa (also known as Eddie Hawa) over who actually owns what stake in the restaurant. Beainy claims he purchased Hawa's 50% stake for $65,000 and Hawa, who started the original Trump Burger in Bellville, says this is untrue and has filed a countersuit seeking $1 million in damages.
Earlier this year, Eater visited the Houston restaurant and walked away quite unimpressed. 'The chargrilled burger patties are thick but bland, topped with a waxy cheese that lacks any memorable flavor,' says former regional editor Brittany Britto Garley. The atmosphere is painted as gauche and kind of creepy. Britto Garley spotted a little boy wearing a shirt that read 'Daddy's Home,' in reference to Trump's re-election. The final verdict came down to Trump Burger serving as a refuge for someone who 'supports [the Trump] administration's many compromising decisions.' Apparently, the restaurant can serve as a refuge for those people — just not the country.
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