US Arrests Relatives of Slain Iranian General Qasem Soleimani

Two female relatives of the late Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani have been arrested in the United States. The arrests followed the revocation of their legal permanent resident status, commonly known as a green card.

The U.S. Department of State confirmed that Hamideh Soleimani Afshar, the niece of the slain general, and her daughter were taken into custody by federal agents. The action was ordered by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who terminated their residency permits.

According to an official press release, Afshar and her daughter are now in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The State Department alleges that Afshar is a vocal supporter of what it calls Iran's "totalitarian terrorist regime."

The department cited media reports and Afshar's own social media posts as evidence. It claims she disseminated propaganda for the Iranian government while living a luxurious lifestyle in Los Angeles, frequently posting from an Instagram account that has since been deleted.

Specific accusations include celebrating attacks on U.S. Military personnel and assets in the Middle East, expressing support for Iran's new supreme leader, referring to America as the "Great Satan," and declaring unconditional backing for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

In addition to revoking the residency status of Afshar and her daughter, her husband has also been barred from entering the United States. The Trump administration stated it "will not allow our country to become a home for foreign nationals who support anti-American terrorist regimes."

Secretary Marco Rubio also commented on the case via social media platform X (formerly Twitter), stating: "Until recently, Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter were green card holders living lavishly in the United States... She is also an outspoken supporter of the Iranian regime who celebrated attacks on..."

Qasem Soleimani, commander of the IRGC's elite Quds Force, was killed in a U.S. Drone strike near Baghdad International Airport on January 3, 2020.