Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoked green cards tied to relatives of Qasem Soleimani, triggering arrests by federal agents and signaling a more aggressive use of immigration authority against individuals linked to hostile regimes.
Reuters reported the arrests followed directly from the termination of lawful permanent resident status, confirming the timeline laid out by officials.
“U.S. federal agents have arrested the niece and grand-niece of late Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani after Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoked their lawful permanent resident status.”
The State Department identified the individuals now in custody.
“Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter are now in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.”
Officials tied the decision to Afshar’s public statements and online activity, which they say aligned with Iran’s leadership and openly supported the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization. The department cited repeated praise of attacks on American forces and messaging consistent with regime propaganda.
“While living in the United States, she promoted Iranian regime propaganda, celebrated attacks against American soldiers and military facilities in the Middle East, praised the new Iranian Supreme Leader, denounced America as the ‘Great Satan,’ and voiced her unflinching support for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.”
The department also pointed to what it described as a stark contrast between that advocacy and her life in the United States.
“Afshar Soleimani pushed this propaganda for Iran’s terrorist regime while enjoying a lavish lifestyle in Los Angeles.”
This was not an isolated step. Earlier this month, the department revoked the legal status of Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani, the daughter of Ali Larijani, and her husband, both of whom are now barred from reentry. The sequence points to a broader pattern targeting individuals with direct family or political ties to senior figures inside Iran’s government.
Officials framed the action as part of a wider national security posture under Donald Trump, focusing on denying residency to those who publicly support designated terrorist groups.
“The Trump Administration will not allow our country to become a home for foreign nationals who support anti-American terrorist regimes.”
The arrests and status terminations relied on coordination between the State Department, the Department of Homeland Security, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The approach treats public advocacy and affiliation as grounds for removal when tied to designated terrorist organizations.
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