Rubio Revokes Green Cards of Soleimani's Niece and Daughter; Both Arrested by ICE in Los Angeles
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has revoked the green cards of Qasem Soleimani’s niece and grandniece, citing their promotion of Iranian regime propaganda while living in Los Angeles. Now in ICE custody, the pair face deportation.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has revoked the lawful permanent resident status of the niece and grandniece of slain Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani, and both women are now in federal custody pending deportation proceedings.
Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter were arrested by federal agents Friday night following Rubio's termination of their green card status. Both are now in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Who They Are
The two women, niece and grandniece of the late IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani, had lived in the United States as lawful permanent residents until Rubio's decision. Soleimani, who led the IRGC's Quds Force and was held responsible by Washington for attacks that killed hundreds of American service members, was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad in January 2020.
Why Rubio Acted
The State Department cited Soleimani Afshar's public conduct on social media as the basis for revoking her status. 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 support for the IRGC, a U.S.-designated terror organization.
The State Department said Afshar pushed this propaganda for Iran's terrorist regime while enjoying a lavish lifestyle in Los Angeles, as reflected in posts on her recently deleted Instagram account.
In announcing the move, Rubio wrote on X: "Until recently, Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter were green card holders living lavishly in the United States. This week, I terminated both Afshar and her daughter's legal status and they are now in ICE custody, pending removal from the United States."
Afshar's husband has also been separately barred from entering the United States.
This action is part of a broader initiative under Secretary Rubio targeting individuals linked to the Iranian regime. Earlier this month, Rubio also revoked the legal status of Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani, daughter of a former top Iranian security official, and her husband. That pair have already been deported and barred from future entry.
The Trump administration has stated that it "will not allow our country to become a home for foreign nationals who support anti-American terrorist regimes."
The move drew sharp reactions across the political spectrum. Supporters called it long overdue; critics characterized it as collective punishment or political retaliation. Iranian state media condemned it as illegal. No court challenges have yet been reported, and both women remain in federal custody.