Trump Burger Founder Faces Charges of Flagrant Abuse of U.S. Immigration Laws

Roland Beainy, a Lebanese immigrant and one of the parties to a lawsuit over the Trump Burger Restaurant in Flatonia, faces mounting legal trouble. This week the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) accused him of “flagrant abuse” of U.S. immigration laws.

The Record first reported on Beainy’s immigration troubles in our July 11 issue. At the time, we learned that Beainy was suing the landlord of his Trump Burger Kemah location for breach of contract, among other claims, after the landlord terminated the lease.

One of the exhibits in that lawsuit, the landlord’s notice to terminate the lease dated June 9, stated that Beainy was “no longer recognized as a leaseholder or authorized representative” because he “is currently detained by ICE and his green card has been revoked.”

DHS contacted the Record this week to clarify that Beainy did not have a green card. At the time, he had applied for residency based on a marriage to a U.S. citizen. However, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) conducted an investigation that concluded Beainy’s supposed marriage was a sham intended only to obtain immigration benefits.

The story has since made national headlines given the business’ theme of support for President Donald Trump and the President’s strong position on illegal immigration. USA Today, Newsweek, Fox News and others have cited the July 11 story in the Fayette County Record.

The Record attempted to contact Beainy and his attorney for comment, but neither has responded.

In a Houston Chronicle story from Sunday, Beainy seemed to deny the accusations against him.

“The lawyers are suggesting we shouldn’t comment,” Beainy told the Chronicle. “A lot of the stuff is fake, though, but it is what it is.”

DHS disagreed. “The Department of Homeland Security has zero tolerance for immigration fraud, and this individual’s claims are baseless,” a DHS spokesman said in a statement to the Record on Monday. “USCIS revoked the petition after evidence, including admissions from the petitioner’s own family, exposed his marriage as a sham designed to game the system. This person has no Green Card, a history of illegal marriages, and an assault charge. DHS is actively pursuing all legal avenues to address this flagrant abuse of our immigration laws.”

Last week U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported that Beainy is a 28-year-old illegal immigrant from Lebanon. ICE said Beainy entered the United States in 2019 as a non-immigrant visitor and failed to depart by Feb. 12, 2024, as required under the terms of his entry. ICE officers arrested him on May 16 of this year and he was placed into immigration proceedings. On June 13, an immigration judge approved his request for bond while his immigration case proceeds in the court.

“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,” an ICE spokesman said last week. “This is true regardless of what restaurant you own or political beliefs you might have.”