Federal agents moved in late Friday night to arrest the niece and grand-niece of the late Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani, following a direct order from Secretary of State Marco Rubio to revoke their Green Cards.
Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter were taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Los Angeles.
The move comes after a series of reports and Afshar’s own social media activity linked her to outspoken support for the Iranian government and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which the U.S. classifies as a terrorist organization.
While residing in California, Afshar reportedly used her platforms to celebrate attacks on American military personnel in the Middle East and praise Iran’s Supreme Leader. Despite frequently labeling the United States as the “Great Satan,” Afshar lived what officials described as a “lavish lifestyle” in Los Angeles, documented through a now-deleted Instagram account.
READ: South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham: Trump Ready To ‘Rain Hell’ On Iran If Hormuz Stays Closed
The State Department confirmed that the crackdown extends beyond those currently in custody. Afshar’s husband has been officially barred from entering the country.
This follows a separate action earlier this month where Secretary Rubio terminated the legal status of Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani—daughter of a former high-ranking Iranian security official—and her husband, Seyed Kalantar Motamedi. Both have already left the United States and are prohibited from returning.
In a statement regarding the enforcement, the State Department noted its collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security to carry out the removals.
The administration signaled that these revocations are part of a broader policy shift, stating, “The Trump Administration will not allow our country to become a home for foreign nationals who support anti-American terrorist regimes.”
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