The owner of Trump’s Burger in Texas may face deportation as part of the administration’s broader immigration enforcement efforts, according to officials from Homeland Security.
A native of Lebanon, Roland Beanie was taken into custody by Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) in May after it was found that he had overstayed his visa.
Beanie, who opened the first location of the burger restaurant themed around Donald Trump in 2020, came to the United States on a tourist visa in 2019, as stated by DHS.
The visa expired in February 2024, but Beanie remained in the country unlawfully.
Interestingly, being a supporter of Trump hasn’t exempted him from the government’s tough stance on illegal immigration.
“The current administration is dedicated to restoring integrity to our immigration system by addressing all individuals who either illegally enter the country or overstay their visas,” DHS mentioned in a statement.
“This applies regardless of the restaurant you own or your political views,” the agency added.
Furthermore, the immigration petition submitted by Beanie was dismissed after relatives revealed that his marriage was apparently a ruse to manipulate the system, according to DHS.
“The Department of Homeland Security does not tolerate immigration fraud, and this individual’s claims are baseless,” said the agency.
They also noted that he does not have a green card, nor any history of illegal marriage or assault charges, emphasizing that actions are being taken to address what they called a significant abuse of immigration laws.
In response to the federal allegations, Beanie stated that they were “not true,” as reported to the Houston Chronicle.
An immigration judge granted Beanie’s release from federal detention in June, following the requirement for bonds, but his deportation process remains active.
The Trump-themed burger establishment, which began in Belleville in 2020, has expanded to four locations in the Houston region since then.
A recent post on Facebook featured a light-hearted video of Beanie showing off playing cards while jokingly asking a Latina diner for a green card.
Additionally, the restaurant has filed a lawsuit against Texas landlord Archie Patterson Kema, alleging that his actions forced staff to leave and affected the business. Patterson, however, has countersued Beanie over unpaid debts.
