Trump Burger Co-Owner Faces Deportation for being an ‘Illegal Alien’

Immigration crackdown under President Trump catches high-profile MAGA eatery boss

The co-owner of a viral Trump-themed burger chain is fighting for his freedom — and his place in America — after federal agents accused him of being an “illegal alien” who overstayed his visa, staged a sham marriage, and racked up an assault charge.

Roland Beainy, 28, a Lebanese national, helped launch Trump Burger in 2020. The MAGA-styled fast-food joints exploded in popularity with their over-the-top decor: Trump cardboard cutouts grinning at diners, American flags on every wall, buns stamped “TRUMP,” and even a paid Trump impersonator patrolling the dining room.

“It’s like stepping into a political rally with french fries,” one customer told a Houston TV station earlier this year.

But now, the flashy co-owner is the latest target of President Trump’s second-term immigration crackdown.

According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Beainy arrived in the U.S. in 2019 on a temporary visa but failed to leave when it expired on February 12, 2024. Agents arrested him in Houston on May 16.

“Roland Mehrez Beainy does not have any immigration benefits that prevented his arrest or removal,” an ICE spokesperson told reporters. “This is true regardless of what restaurant you own or what political beliefs you have.”

ICE officials confirmed Beainy is out on bond while his case moves through immigration court.

The Department of Homeland Security claims Beainy tried to secure permanent residency through a fraudulent marriage. A woman filed for his green card, but U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) investigated and revoked the petition.

“Evidence, including statements from the petitioner’s own family, proved the marriage was a sham designed to game the system,” a DHS spokesperson said. “This individual has no green card, a history of fraudulent marriages, and an assault charge.”

Beainy told the Houston Chronicle, “Ninety percent of the stuff they’re saying is not true,” but declined further comment on his attorney’s advice.

The deportation fight is only one of Beainy’s legal headaches. Court records show multiple lawsuits tied to Trump Burger.

In one case, Beainy insists he purchased 50 percent of the business for $65,000 from co-founder Iyad “Eddie” Hawa. Hawa denies there was ever a deal and is seeking $1 million in damages.

In another dispute, Beainy accuses a landlord of “commandeering” his Kemah, Texas location and rebranding it as “MAGA Burger” after a fight over a liquor license.

While President Trump is famously a burger lover — and once even worked a shift at McDonald’s for the cameras — his company isn’t backing this MAGA eatery.

In February, the Trump Organization sent a cease-and-desist letter accusing Trump Burger of “flagrantly infringing” on Trump’s name and brand. The order demanded they stop using Trump’s image on menus, banners, and merchandise.

The White House has declined to comment on Beainy’s arrest.

Earlier this year, food site Eater described Trump Burger as a shrine to the president: life-size posters, Trump hats for sale, and a gag menu item called “The Biden Burger,” featuring “the oldest buns available due to cheating and inflation.”

The review called the burgers “thick but bland” and said the cheese was “waxy,” but gave a nod to the “crispy” fries.

Beainy’s deportation hearing is expected later this year. If removed, it would mark one of the highest-profile business owners yet caught in President Trump’s expanded enforcement push.

“ICE is restoring integrity to the system,” the agency said in a statement. “No one is above the law.”