The niece and grand-niece of the late Iranian General Qassem Soleimani were arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Los Angeles on Friday (April 3). Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter had their green cards revoked due to their alleged support for Iran’s regime.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the revocation of their permanent residency, citing Soleimani Afshar’s outspoken support for the Iranian government and celebration of attacks on U.S. soldiers. The State Department described her as a supporter of a “totalitarian, terrorist regime” and emphasized that such speech is intolerable under President Donald Trump. The arrests come amid the ongoing U.S. and Israeli conflict with Iran, which began on February 28.
Rubio took to social media to explain the decision, stating that Soleimani Afshar’s public comments and lavish lifestyle in Los Angeles were unacceptable. Her husband is also banned from entering the United States. The revocation aligns with the Trump administration’s broader immigration crackdown, targeting individuals with ties to regimes deemed national security threats.
This action follows the recent revocation of legal status for Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani, daughter of the late Iranian official Ali Larijani. As the conflict with Iran continues, the U.S. government has intensified its scrutiny of Iranian nationals residing in the country.
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