The two controversial entrepreneurs behind the unapologetically pro-Trump “Trump Burger” restaurant chain are now facing serious legal consequences — not from liberal cancel culture or progressive activists, but from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In a twist of irony, the men who built a fast-food empire honoring the America First movement now find themselves entangled in criminal allegations and deportation proceedings that could end their stay in the very country they celebrated.
Three weeks after co-founder Roland Beainy was detained by immigration authorities, his former business partner, 55-year-old Jordanian national Iyad Muhammad Abuelhawa, was also taken into ICE custody on June 2. Abuelhawa’s arrest comes years after he had already been ordered deported in 2009 — an order he managed to skirt for over a decade.
Abuelhawa’s rap sheet reads like a public safety nightmare. In 2000, he was convicted of assault. Just a few years later, in 2007, he ran a fraudulent flu shot operation in Houston, injecting roughly 1,600 residents with fake vaccines. For this, he was convicted of health care fraud and drug misbranding — a federal offense. After serving time, he was expected to be deported but somehow stayed under the radar, adopting the alias “Eddie Hawa” and reentering the food business.
ICE didn’t mince words. “While in the U.S. illegally, Abuelhawa has repeatedly put the lives of innocent Americans in jeopardy,” said a spokesperson. “He will no longer be free to endanger anyone in the U.S. again.”
Despite his criminal record and the prior deportation order, Abuelhawa operated businesses freely and even rebranded his Bellville Café to “Trump Café” in 2016, capitalizing on the surge of enthusiasm around Donald Trump’s first presidential campaign. The gimmick worked — the café went viral. But after that venture failed, he joined forces with Lebanese immigrant Roland Beainy in 2020 to launch what became the iconic “Trump Burger” chain.
From the start, Trump Burger reveled in its bold, America-first branding. With burgers stamped with Trump’s name, conservative-themed menu items, Trump impersonators in the dining room, and the infamous $50.99 “Biden Burger” — complete with a tiny one-ounce patty and stale toppings — the restaurant was designed to be a satirical celebration of MAGA culture. The chain eventually expanded to four Texas locations and gained national media attention for its over-the-top patriotism.
But behind the scenes, the business relationship between Abuelhawa and Beainy collapsed. The two are now locked in multiple lawsuits, including one over the ownership of the Trump Burger brand. Abuelhawa is countersuing Beainy for $1 million, while Beainy claims he legally purchased half the business.
Beainy, for his part, isn’t in the clear either. Federal investigators allege he committed immigration fraud through a “sham marriage” designed to circumvent U.S. immigration laws. His green card has been revoked, and the Department of Homeland Security is now pursuing deportation. A November 18 immigration hearing will determine whether he will be removed from the country.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) notified the woman claiming to be Beainy’s wife that his I-130 application had been denied. Officials reported a complete lack of evidence that the couple ever shared a life — no shared lease, no joint bank accounts, and even the woman’s own relatives acknowledged the marriage was a fraud.
Meanwhile, Abuelhawa’s attorney has claimed her client is being denied proper medical care for his diabetes while held at the ICE facility in Conroe, Texas. ICE fired back, asserting that claims of mistreatment are “false,” and that detainees often receive better medical care in custody than they did on the outside. “Meals are certified by dietitians. Ensuring the safety, security, and well-being of individuals in our custody is a top priority at ICE,” said a spokesperson.
If the deportations go through, both men — who turned their devotion to President Trump into a successful business model — will ironically be leaving the very country whose values they once tried to champion (although, possibly just for money). In an even more symbolic twist, the Trump Organization itself disavowed the restaurant. In February, it issued a cease-and-desist letter to Beainy demanding he stop using the Trump name and image, citing unauthorized use and potential consumer confusion.
