Latest news with #RolandMehrezBeainy
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Trump Burger owner in Texas faces deportation after Ice arrest
The owner of a Donald Trump-themed hamburger restaurant chain in Texas is facing deportation after immigration authorities under the command of the president detained him. Roland Mehrez Beainy, 28, entered the US as 'a non-immigrant visitor' from Lebanon in 2019 and was supposed to have left the country by 12 February 2024, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) spokesperson told the Guardian. Citing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Texas's Fayette County Record newspaper reported that Beainy applied for legal status after purportedly wedding a woman – but the agency maintained there is no proof he ever lived with her during the alleged marriage. Ice said its officers arrested Beainy on 16 May – five years after he launched the first of multiple Trump Burger locations – and placed him into immigration proceedings, an agency statement said. '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,' the agency's statement also said. 'This is true regardless of what restaurant you own or political beliefs you might have.' In remarks to the Houston Chronicle, Beainy denied Ice's charges against him, saying: 'Ninety percent of the shit they're saying is not true.' He is tentatively scheduled for a hearing in immigration court on 18 November. Trump Burger gained national attention after Beainy opened the original location in Bellville, Texas, in 2020, the same year Trump lost his bid for a second presidential term to Joe Biden. Replete with memorabilia paying reverence to Trump as well as politically satirical menu items targeting his enemies, Beainy's chain expanded to other locations, including Houston. Trump won a second presidency in January, and his administration summarily began delivering on promises to pursue mass deportations of immigrants. Political supporters of Trump in the US without papers, at least in many cases, have not been spared. One case which generated considerable news headlines was that of a Canadian national who supported Trump's plans for mass deportation of immigrants – only for federal authorities to detain her in California while she interviewed for permanent US residency and publicly describe her in a statement as 'an illegal alien from Canada'. In another instance, Ice reportedly detained a Christian Armenian Iranian woman who lost her legal permanent US residency, or green card, after a 2008 burglary conviction and incarcerated her at a federal detention facility in California despite her vocal support of Trump. Her husband, with whom she is raising four US citizen children, subsequently blamed the couple's plight on Biden's 'doing for open borders', as Newsweek noted. Beainy's detention by Ice is not his only legal plight, according to the Houston Chronicle. He sued the landlord of a Trump Burger location in Kemah, Texas, whom Beainy claimed forcibly removed staff and took over the restaurant. The landlord responded with his own lawsuit accusing Beainy of unpaid debts and renamed the Kemah restaurant Maga Burger. In 2022, Beainy told the Houston Chronicle he endured threats to have Trump Burger burned down when the first one opened its doors. But the brand had since gained a loyal following and a portion of its profits were set aside to aid Trump's fundraising, Beainy said to the outlet. 'I would love to have [Trump's] blessing and have him come by,' Beainy said at the time. 'We're hoping that he … sees the place.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
The Owner Of A Trump-Themed Burger Joint Is Reportedly Facing Deportation, And The Internet Has Sooo Many Thoughts
If you haven't heard, there is a Donald Trump-themed restaurant in Houston, Texas called "Trump Burger." The popular Texas chain sells hamburgers with the letters "T-R-U-M-P" etched into the buns... Related: They have detailed artwork of Trump hanging on the walls... Oh, AND their menu includes items like the "Melania Crispy Chicken" and the "Barron Crispy Grilled," as well as a promise to "Make Burgers Great Again." Well, the "Trump Burger" has recently gone viral due to its owner being arrested by ICE for allegedly overstaying his visa. Related: Roland Mehrez Beainy, the 28-year-old Houston "Trump Burger" owner, was reportedly arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement for allegedly failing to depart the US last year after arriving in 2019 on a non-immigrant visitor visa from Lebanon. An ICE spokesperson said this in a statement about Beainy's arrest: "Despite false claims to the contrary, Roland Mehrez Beainy does not have any immigration benefits that prevented his arrest or removal from the United States. Beainy is a 28-year-old illegal alien from Lebanon who entered the United States in 2019 as a non-immigrant visitor, but he failed to depart by Feb. 12, 2024, as required under the terms of his admission." "ICE officers arrested him on May 16, 2025, and he was placed into immigration proceedings. On June 13, an immigration judge granted his request for bond while he undergoes his proceedings." "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." Related: While awaiting his immigration court hearing set for November, Beainy has denied the charges, telling Chron, a Houston news website: "Ninety percent of the shit they're saying is not true." Obviously, the internet had some thoughts on this one, with multiple people comparing the news to a South Park episode... "South Park Creators rn: WRITE THAT DOWN WRITE THAT DOWN.." Related: "They really thought it would affect everyone else but themselves," this person wrote. And finally, this person pointed out that Trump doesn't seem to care about his own supporters... What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below. Also in In the News: Also in In the News: Also in In the News:
Fox News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Owner of Trump-themed burger chain faces deportation after feds allege illegal status, 'sham' marriages
A co-owner of a Trump-branded burger chain in Texas is facing deportation as officials allege that the Lebanese national overstayed his visa, engaged in "sham" marriages and has a criminal record that includes an assault charge. The 28-year-old restaurateur, Roland Mehrez Beainy, entered the United States in 2019 as a non-immigrant visitor and remained in the country illegally when his visa expired in February 2024, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) told Fox News Digital on Saturday. Beainy – who currently operates Trump Burger locations in Houston, Bellville, Flatonia and Kemah – opened the first restaurant in Bellville in 2020 but was never authorized to use the Trump name or branding, according to local reports. The Trump Organization, President Donald Trump's private business, sent the Bellville location a cease-and-desist letter earlier this year, The Fayette County Record reported. Officials said Beainy's political leanings won't shield him from President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration. "Despite false claims to the contrary, Roland Mehrez Beainy does not have any immigration benefits that prevented his arrest or removal from the United States," an ICE spokesperson told Fox News Digital on Saturday. "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." The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said officials revoked Beainy's petition for immigration status after members of his own family admitted that his marriage was "a sham designed to game the system." "The Department of Homeland Security has zero tolerance for immigration fraud, and this individual's claims are baseless," a DHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital in a statement Saturday. "This person has no Green Card, a history of illegal marriages, and an assault charge. DHS is actively pursuing all legal avenues to address this flagrant abuse of our immigration laws." Beainy has denied the allegations, calling them "not true" in a statement to the Houston Chronicle. The restaurateur was arrested by ICE in May and placed into immigration proceedings, but was granted bond in June, the agency said, adding that his deportation case will continue to proceed through the courts. Beainy's burger chain has been embroiled in branding conflicts and other business disputes this year. In February, attorneys for the Trump Organization sent Trump Burger a cease-and-desist letter accusing it of "misleading the public into falsely believing that your business is affiliated with the Trump Organization or endorsed by our clients," according to The Fayette County Record. "We were surprised to learn that you have been flagrantly infringing upon the Trump Organization's valuable and well-established intellectual property right by operating at least three restaurants under the Trump name and brand," the letter read. The company demanded Beainy stop using the Trump brand, scrub all references from marketing materials, and provide "a full accounting of all revenues" generated from the alleged misuse, The Fayette County Record reported, adding that the letter warned of legal actions if demands were not met. In a separate matter in June, the restaurant sued its Kemah, Texas, landlord, Archie Patterson, who allegedly forced staff out and took control of the location, according to the Houston Chronicle. Patterson responded with his own lawsuit accusing Beainy of unpaid debts, the outlet added. The Trump Organization and the attorney representing Beainy, Geoffrey S. Binney, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital on Saturday.
The Guardian
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Trump Burger owner in Texas faces deportation after Ice arrest
The owner of a Donald Trump-themed hamburger restaurant chain in Texas is facing deportation after immigration authorities under the command of the president detained him. Roland Mehrez Beainy, 28, entered the US as 'a non-immigrant visitor' from Lebanon in 2019 and was supposed to have left the country by 12 February 2024, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) spokesperson told the Guardian. Citing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Texas's Fayette County Record newspaper reported that Beainy applied for legal status after purportedly wedding a woman – but the agency maintained there is no proof he ever lived with her during the alleged marriage. Ice said its officers arrested Beainy on 16 May – five years after he launched the first of multiple Trump Burger locations – and placed him into immigration proceedings, an agency statement said. '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,' the agency's statement also said. 'This is true regardless of what restaurant you own or political beliefs you might have.' In remarks to the Houston Chronicle, Beainy denied Ice's charges against him, saying: 'Ninety percent of the shit they're saying is not true.' He is tentatively scheduled for a hearing in immigration court on 18 November. Trump Burger gained national attention after Beainy opened the original location in Bellville, Texas, in 2020, the same year Trump lost his bid for a second presidential term to Joe Biden. Replete with memorabilia paying reverence to Trump as well as politically satirical menu items targeting his enemies, Beainy's chain expanded to other locations, including Houston. Trump won a second presidency in January, and his administration summarily began delivering on promises to pursue mass deportations of immigrants. Political supporters of Trump in the US without papers, at least in many cases, have not been spared. One case which generated considerable news headlines was that of a Canadian national who supported Trump's plans for mass deportation of immigrants – only for federal authorities to detain her in California while she interviewed for permanent US residency and publicly describe her in a statement as 'an illegal alien from Canada'. In another instance, Ice reportedly detained a Christian Armenian Iranian woman who lost her legal permanent US residency, or green card, after a 2008 burglary conviction and incarcerated her at a federal detention facility in California despite her vocal support of Trump. Her husband, with whom she is raising four US citizen children, subsequently blamed the couple's plight on Biden's 'doing for open borders', as Newsweek noted. Beainy's detention by Ice is not his only legal plight, according to the Houston Chronicle. He sued the landlord of a Trump Burger location in Kemah, Texas, whom Beainy claimed forcibly removed staff and took over the restaurant. The landlord responded with his own lawsuit accusing Beainy of unpaid debts and renamed the Kemah restaurant Maga Burger. In 2022, Beainy told the Houston Chronicle he endured threats to have Trump Burger burned down when the first one opened its doors. But the brand had since gained a loyal following and a portion of its profits were set aside to aid Trump's fundraising, Beainy said to the outlet. 'I would love to have [Trump's] blessing and have him come by,' Beainy said at the time. 'We're hoping that he … sees the place.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Owner of Trump-themed burger chain arrested by ICE, facing deportation
Roland Mehrez Beainy, a co-owner of Trump Burger in Texas, is facing deportation. Beainy, a 28-year-old originally from Lebanon, entered the U.S. in 2019 with a non-immigrant visitor visa and overstayed, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The restaurateur was arrested by ICE on May 16 and placed in detention. He was then granted bond by an immigration attorney on June 13 as his case goes through the courts, the agency stated. '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. Trump Burger opened its third restaurant in the Houston area in April, where they sell burgers with the buns branded with 'Trump.' A fourth franchise opened in Bay City this summer. The two other restaurants are in Bellville and Flatonia, Texas. Earlier this year, Beainy told Eater that high demand for the branded burger led him to open more locations. The White House declined to comment about the deportation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
