The co-owner of Trump Burger, a Texas-based fast food chain themed after President Donald Trump, is now facing deportation from the U.S. over claims of marriage fraud and overstaying his visa.
Roland Beainy, 28, originally from Lebanon, is accused of lying on immigration paperwork to try to get a green card. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) now says he never had a green card to begin with and is in the U.S. illegally.
“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 said on Thursday.
Beainy was arrested by ICE agents on May 16 and is now going through immigration court. On June 13, a judge granted him bond, but the case is ongoing. If he loses, he’ll likely be deported.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said Beainy’s alleged fraud won’t be tolerated: “The Department of Homeland Security has zero tolerance for immigration fraud, and this individual’s claims are baseless.” The spokesperson said USCIS revoked Beainy’s immigration petition after finding “evidence, including admissions from the petitioner’s own family,” showing his marriage was fake and “designed to game the system.”
The woman who claimed to be Beainy’s wife was told on January 29 that his residency status was being revoked. USCIS found no lease or other proof they actually lived together.
On top of the immigration case, Beainy is involved in multiple lawsuits tied to his business. He calls himself “the culinary tycoon” on Instagram and owns 50% of Trump Burger, a small chain with four locations in Texas. The chain is known for menu items like the “Trump Tower” burger and “Melania Crispy Chicken,” and often features Trump impersonators at its events.
But the chain has no official ties to Donald Trump or his company. According to The Fayette County Record, Trump’s legal team recently sent a cease-and-desist letter to the owners, ordering them to stop using the name and brand, accusing them of misleading customers.
One location that opened in Houston in May was slammed by critics. A review called it “consistent in blandness.”
Beainy bought his share of the company from its founder, Iyad Abuelhawa, also known as Eddie Hawa. In April, Beainy sued Hawa, claiming he owns half the business. Hawa fired back with a countersuit, saying no deal was ever finalized and demanding $1 million in damages.
ICE says Beainy entered the U.S. in 2019 on a temporary visa but never left when it expired in February 2024. He’s accused of using a fake marriage in 2021 to try to stay in the country legally.
“This person has no Green Card, a history of illegal marriages, and an assault charge,” the DHS spokesperson said. “DHS is actively pursuing all legal avenues to address this flagrant abuse of our immigration laws.”
ICE made it clear that political views or business ownership don’t offer protection: “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.”
When contacted Tuesday, Beainy responded but referred questions to his lawyer, who has not commented.
Trump Burger later posted a meme on Instagram showing Trump with the caption: “You’re fake news.”
