Summary of the Trump Burger Deportation Case
The owner of Texas’ Trump Burger, Roland Beainy, faces imminent deportation under the Biden administration’s mass deportation efforts. Beainy, a Lebanese national, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in May after it was discovered he had overstayed his non-immigrant tourist visa. Beainy entered the U.S. in 2019, with his visa set to expire in February 2024, but he has remained in the country illegally since then.
Despite Beainy’s apparent support for former President Donald Trump and his branding of the burger joint, he has not been insulated from the ongoing crackdown on illegal immigration. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) asserted that all individuals who enter the country illegally or overstay their visas are subject to enforcement actions. This commitment is reflected in a recent statement from DHS, which affirmed that political affiliations or business ownership do not exempt individuals from accountability.
Complicating Beainy’s situation further, DHS revoked his petition for immigration status after revelations emerged that his marriage was reportedly fraudulent, a tactic to manipulate immigration laws. The agency maintained a stringent stance against immigration fraud, emphasizing that Beainy’s history—including an assault charge and multiple illegal marriages—rendered his claims weak. DHS emphasized that they would pursue all available legal options to enforce immigration laws in this case.
In response to the accusations, Beainy denied the allegations, describing them as "not true." He had previously been released from federal custody on bond after a hearing in June, but his deportation proceedings remain active. This precarious legal situation creates ongoing uncertainty about his future in the U.S.
Beainy is not just an employee but the face of a restaurant chain that has expanded significantly since its original opening in Bellville in 2020. Today, Trump Burger operates four locations across the Houston area. The restaurant has also drawn attention for its politically charged branding, including a recent incident where it featured a video of a Trump impersonator playfully questioning Latino patrons about their green cards.
Amid these legal troubles, Beainy faces issues with his landlord in Kemah, Texas. He has filed a lawsuit against Archie Patterson, alleging that Patterson forced staff out of the restaurant. Conversely, Patterson has countered with his own lawsuit, claiming that Beainy owes him money. This conflict adds yet another layer of complexity to Beainy’s already challenging circumstances. Overall, the culmination of immigration issues, business challenges, and political dimensions make this situation particularly noteworthy in the context of the current immigration landscape in the United States.