Trump Burger owner faces deportation despite paying tribute to the president

BarcelonaOne of the owners of the Trump Burger chain, named after US President Donald Trump, has been arrested and could be deported from the United States because his visa has expired. Roland Beainy, 28, of Lebanese origin, could become another victim of Trump's immigration policies, despite paying tribute to the president in his establishments.

Beainy arrived in the United States in 2019 and should have left more than a year ago, on February 12, 2024, because his visa expired at that time, according to the country's Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service. However, he continued working.

A year after arriving in the United States, the man and other partners opened a hamburger restaurant in the city of Bellville, Texas, which he named Trump Burger in honor of the Republican president. The establishment was a huge success, prompting the Lebanese chef to open three more similar burger restaurants in other parts of the state: one in Bay City, another in Flatonia, and a third in Houston.

The burger joints have gone viral on social media for being a true homage to Trump, both for their decor and their menu, which references the president. For example, the sandwich buns have Trump's name written on them, one of the burgers on the menu is called Trump Tower, and they also serve chicken sandwiches in honor of First Lady Melania Trump, and others that aim to mock former Democratic President Joe Biden, because they feature "tomato and bread." Furthermore, all the burger joints are decorated with images of Trump and sell products linked to him, as well as American patriotic symbols.

However, the full force of the law has fallen on the owner of the establishments, who has failed to curry favor with the Trump administration and could be deported from the country. According to authorities, the man attempted to obtain a green card in 2021 by claiming he had married a US citizen, but failed to provide any proof.

"Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained him on May 16, and immigration proceedings then began," sources from the agency reported in a statement, clarifying that the deportation process has begun. However, on June 13, a judge agreed to release the man in exchange for bail. A court hearing to decide his future is scheduled for November 18.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has warned that, under the current U.S. administration, no one can live "illegally" in the United States, "regardless of the restaurant they own or their political ideology." In short, Trump burger joints won't save him from deportation.