ICE detained another proprietor of 'Trump Burger', and according to his lawyer, they are 'anticipating his demise'.
In a series of events, Iyad Abuelhawa, a co-owner of the Trump Burger chain in Texas, has been detained by ICE. Abuelhawa, also known as Eddie Hawa, opened the first Trump Cafe in Bellville in October 2016 with his wife, Suad Hamedah. However, the restaurant closed in 2017.
Abuelhawa's legal troubles began in 2007 when he was convicted of health care fraud and misbranding a drug for dangerously injecting 1,600 Houston-area residents with fake flu shots. He was also convicted of assault in 2000 and intimidation in 2018.
In June 2021, ICE detained Abuelhawa. The exact time of his arrest is not publicly available. Abuelhawa's lawyer has expressed concerns about his client's health, stating that he is struggling with diabetes and a heart condition, but is not receiving necessary insulin or blood sugar monitoring while detained.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has accused Abuelhawa of being a "criminal alien from Jordan" who has "remained in the U.S. illegally for the past 16 years," and "has repeatedly put the lives of innocent Americans in jeopardy." The DHS spokesperson claimed that the Trump Burger owner's arrest was a result of the administration's focus on restoring integrity to our nation's immigration laws.
However, the DHS spokesperson also claimed that meals for detainees are certified by dieticians and that the health care provided to detainees is the best many aliens have received in their entire lives. They denied any claims that detainees are not being provided with proper medical care.
Abuelhawa and his business partner, Roland Beainy, expanded the Trump Burger franchise to multiple locations in the state. Three years after the closure of the Trump Cafe, Abuelhawa opened a new restaurant, also called Trump Burger, in Bellville.
ICE also detained Roland Beainy in May. The fate of the Trump Burger chain and the future of both men remain uncertain as their cases proceed.
