U.S. revokes legal residence status of former Iranian Guard leader Soleimani's family, takes them into ICE custody

Key Points:

• Hamideh Soleimani Afshar, niece of deceased Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, and her daughter were arrested after their U.S. permanent resident status was revoked due to promoting Iranian regime propaganda and supporting attacks against U.S. forces.
• The Department of Homeland Security declared Soleimani Afshar's 2019 asylum claim fraudulent, citing multiple trips to Iran after receiving her green card, and is pursuing deportation for her and her husband, who is also barred from entering the U.S.
• Soleimani Afshar lived a lavish lifestyle in Los Angeles while openly supporting Iran's totalitarian regime, according to the U.S. State Department, which emphasized that green card privileges can be revoked if holders pose a threat to the U.S.
• Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the termination of legal status for Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani, daughter of a former top Iranian security official, and her husband, who have since left the U.S., reinforcing the administration's stance against harboring supporters of anti-American regimes.
• Qasem Soleimani, killed in a U.S. drone strike in 2020, was a key Iranian military leader responsible for regional militant activities and remains a symbolic figure in Iran, with his family members now facing U.S. immigration enforcement actions.