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US federal agents have detained Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter, who are relatives of the late Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani, after Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoked their green cards. The State Department announced Saturday that Rubio had rescinded their lawful permanent resident status, and they are now in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike in Baghdad back in January 2020 during President Donald Trump’s first term. The department indicated that Afshar supports Iran’s government and its propaganda efforts, and also noted that her husband was prohibited from entering the United States.
The federal action coincides with the sixth week of the ongoing conflict between the US and Israel against Iran. Earlier this month, Rubio also ended the legal status of Fatemeh Ardeshir Larijani, the daughter of seasoned Iranian politician Ali Larijani, along with her husband, Seyed Kalantar Motamedi. Both are now outside the US and are barred from re-entry.
Ali Larijani, a key architect of Iran’s security policies, was killed in mid-March in an airstrike conducted by US and Israeli forces. During President Trump’s second term, the administration ramped up deportation efforts, labeling many immigrants as threats. Human rights advocates have expressed concerns over potential infringements on free speech and due process, noting that many detainees have since been released following court rulings.
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