The U.S. government has revoked the legal permanent resident status of Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter, relatives of the late Iranian Revolutionary Guard Major General Qasem Soleimani, and taken them into custody, officials confirmed April 4.
The State Department stated that both women are now under the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Authorities allege that Soleimani Afshar actively promoted propaganda supporting the Iranian regime, celebrated attacks on U.S. forces in the Middle East, and expressed anti-American views on social media, all while living a lavish lifestyle in Los Angeles.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) identified Soleimani Afshar as an outspoken supporter of Iran’s “totalitarian, terrorist regime.” DHS also declared her 2019 asylum application fraudulent, citing evidence of at least four trips back to Iran after her green card was issued. Additionally, her husband has been barred from entering the United States.
These actions mark the initiation of a process to strip them of their green cards and pursue their deportation. A DHS spokesperson emphasized, “It is a privilege to be granted a green card to live in the United States of America. If we have reason to believe a green card holder poses a threat to the U.S., the green card will be revoked.”
Qasem Soleimani, the former commander of Iran’s elite Quds Force, was killed by a U.S. drone strike in Iraq in January 2020. He was a central figure behind Iran’s regional military operations and was viewed as a national icon among regime supporters.
Separately, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the termination of legal status for Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani, daughter of the late Iranian security official Ali Larijani, and her husband. The couple is reportedly no longer in the U.S. Rubio stated that the administration will not permit foreign nationals who support anti-American terrorist regimes to reside in the country.
Why it matters
This enforcement action reflects the U.S. government’s efforts to target individuals associated with foreign regimes deemed hostile or threatening, particularly those linked to Iran’s military and intelligence apparatus. The revocation of permanent resident status based on support for foreign terrorist regimes and fraudulent immigration claims signals heightened scrutiny of such cases under U.S. immigration and national security policies.
Background
Qasem Soleimani rose to prominence following the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, becoming Iran’s most powerful military commander involved in coordinating proxy militant groups across the Middle East. His targeted killing in 2020 further escalated tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
The Trump administration previously employed similar legal authority to detain and deport foreign nationals with alleged ties to extremist or hostile groups. These cases sometimes sparked federal court challenges concerning free speech and due process rights.
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