A co-owner of the ‘Trump Burger’ restaurant chain is facing deportation after he was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Roland Mehrez Beainy,28, opened the fourth location of ‘Trump Burger’ restaurant in the Houston, Texas area in April. The next month he was arrested by ICE agents for overstaying his visa, according to a local NBC affiliate
Beainy initially claimed he is a green card holder and was accused of making false statement on his immigration application.
Newsweek reported that immigration officials notified him that his green card will be revoked over suspected marriage fraud, while embroiled in lawsuits over the company.
However, an ICE spokesperson revealed in a statement on Thursday that Beainy is not a green card holder, but an illegal immigrant who had overstayed his visa.
Beainy is a Lebanese national who entered the United States in 2019 on a non-immigrant visitor visa but did not leave by the February 12, 2024 required date.
“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,” the ICE spokesperson said.
“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,” the spokesperson continued. “This is true regardless of what restaurant you own or political beliefs you might have.”
An immigration judge granted Beainy’s request for bond while he undergoes his proceedings in June.