Roland Mehrez Beainy, a 28-year-old entrepreneur from Lebanon, has found himself at the center of a high-profile immigration case that’s stirring debate in Texas and beyond. Beainy, the founder of the Trump Burger restaurant chain, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on May 16, 2025, for allegedly overstaying his visa and faces potential deportation. The case has drawn national attention, not just for its legal implications, but for its striking irony: a vocal supporter of Donald Trump’s immigration policies now finds himself targeted by the very system he once championed.
Beainy’s journey began in 2019, when he entered the United States from Lebanon on a non-immigrant visitor visa. Under the terms of his admission, he was required to leave by February 12, 2024. Instead, Beainy remained in the country, building a business empire that would soon grab headlines for its unabashed political branding. According to Newsweek and KPRC, Beainy opened the first Trump Burger location in Bellville, Texas, in 2020—a year marked by Donald Trump’s failed reelection bid against Joe Biden. The chain quickly expanded, with new restaurants opening in Houston, Bay City, Kemah, and Flatonia, all in Texas.
Step inside any Trump Burger, and the theme is unmistakable. The restaurants are decked out in MAGA memorabilia—red hats, campaign posters, and artwork of the former president himself. The menu is a playful homage to Trump and his family, featuring items like the "Trump Tower Burger," "The Big Swiss Deal," "Melania Crispy Chicken," and even the "Barron Crispy Grilled." Every burger bun is stamped with the word "TRUMP," and the slogan "Make Burgers Great Again" is proudly displayed on the walls. According to Chron.com, Beainy once expressed hope that Trump would visit the restaurant, saying, "We’re hoping that he sees the place."
But Beainy’s support for Trump went beyond decor and menu choices. As reported by Metro, he donated profits from his politically branded diners to Trump’s election campaign, cementing his status as a MAGA supporter in both spirit and action. Despite his enthusiasm for the former president, Beainy soon found himself on the receiving end of Trump-era immigration enforcement.
ICE’s arrest of Beainy was swift and decisive. In a statement to The Guardian and KPRC, an ICE spokesperson said: "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." The agency emphasized that its commitment to enforcing immigration laws applies to all, "regardless of what restaurant you own or political beliefs you might have."
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has leveled additional accusations against Beainy, including attempting to "game the system" through a "sham" marriage, having an assault charge, and a "history of illegal marriages." These claims, reported by Chron.com and HuffPost, have only intensified the scrutiny surrounding his case. Beainy, for his part, has vigorously denied the allegations. Speaking to Chron.com, he said, "Ninety percent of the shit they’re saying is not true." On the advice of his lawyer, he has declined to comment further on the specifics of the case.
The legal proceedings are far from over. After his arrest, Beainy was granted bond by an immigration judge on June 13, 2025, allowing him to remain free while his case is adjudicated. An immigration court hearing is provisionally scheduled for November 18, 2025, according to multiple outlets including Metro and BuzzFeed. Until then, Beainy continues to operate his restaurants, though the threat of deportation looms large.
Beainy’s predicament comes at a time when the Trump administration is doubling down on its immigration enforcement efforts. ICE recently announced it would remove age limits for new recruits, a move made possible by funding from Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The agency has embarked on a hiring spree, signaling a new era of aggressive immigration policy. As the ICE spokesperson told KPRC, "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 story has ignited strong reactions across the political spectrum. Supporters of strict immigration enforcement argue that the law is the law, and Beainy’s political views or business ventures should not exempt him from the rules everyone else must follow. As one ICE official put it, the system is designed to "restore integrity" and "hold all individuals accountable." Others, however, see a degree of poetic justice—or even hypocrisy—in Beainy’s situation. Social media users and commentators have pointed out the irony of a Trump supporter being ensnared by Trump’s own immigration policies. "They really thought it would affect everyone else but themselves," one commenter quipped, as reported by BuzzFeed.
For Beainy, the stakes are high. Not only is he fighting to remain in the country he now calls home, but he is also defending the reputation of his business and his personal integrity. The Trump Burger restaurants have become more than just eateries; they are symbols in a broader cultural and political debate. In 2022, Beainy revealed to the Houston Chronicle that he had received threats of arson against his restaurants, further underscoring the tensions that swirl around his brand.
Despite the controversy, Trump Burger continues to attract customers—some drawn by the novelty, others by the food, and many by the political statement. The chain’s website describes it as "a patriotic haven for burger lovers," and its Houston location celebrated a grand opening as recently as April 2025. Whether Beainy will be present to see the business thrive in the years to come remains an open question, one that will be decided by the immigration courts in the months ahead.
As the November hearing approaches, all eyes are on Roland Mehrez Beainy and the outcome of his case. In a nation where immigration, politics, and business often collide in unpredictable ways, his story is a vivid reminder of how quickly fortunes can change—and how the rules, once set, apply to everyone.