'Trump Burger' keeps sizzling, but owner's future in US is on the line — how a MAGA devotee came under ICE's radar
Donald Trump
's face could shield the man behind Texas's MAGA-themed fast food chain from a federal immigration crackdown.
Roland Mehrez Beainy — the 28-year-old Lebanese national who co-owns the Trump Burger restaurants — was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in May for allegedly overstaying his visa, The Hill reported. He now faces deportation, with ICE officials describing him as an 'illegal alien' who has 'no immigration benefits' preventing removal.
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According to ICE, Beainy entered the U.S. in 2019 on a non-immigrant visitor visa, which required him to leave by February 12, 2024. Federal authorities say he failed to do so. He was arrested on May 16, then released on bond on June 13 pending immigration court proceedings.
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'Roland Mehrez Beainy does not have any immigration benefits that prevented his arrest or removal from the United States,' an ICE spokesperson told The Hill.
'Under the current administration, ICE is 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.'
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Allegations of a 'sham' marriage
ICE and the Department of Homeland Security also allege that Beainy sought legal status through what they describe as a fraudulent marriage. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services revoked the petition, citing a lack of evidence the couple ever lived together, as well as statements from the petitioner's family suggesting the marriage was not genuine, The Hill reported.
Newsweek noted that a woman who said she was Beainy's wife had applied to secure legal status for him, but USCIS found no proof of an actual marriage.
Beainy, however, disputes the bulk of the government's claims. 'Ninety percent of the s--- they're saying is not true,' he told The Chon, adding that he would not comment further on the advice of his attorney.
Trump-branded burgers keep sizzling despite owner's arrest
Beainy's legal troubles have unfolded as his MAGA-themed burger empire has been expanding. Complete with Instagram-ready buns emblazoned with Trump's name, satirical menu items, and Trump impersonators mingling with customers, the brand opened a third location in the Houston area in April.
A fourth Trump Burger opened in Bay City this summer — just weeks after Beainy's arrest — due to what local media described as 'high demand.'
Beainy's
immigration court hearing
is scheduled for November 18, when a judge will decide whether he can remain in the United States. Until then, the MAGA burgers will keep flipping — but their future, like their founder's, hangs in the balance.
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