The niece and grand niece of deceased Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Major General Qasem Soleimani have been arrested by federal agents. The move follows Secretary of State Marco Rubio pulling their lawful permanent resident (LPR) status.
“Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter are now in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement,” the State Department announced. “As identified by both press reporting and her own social media commentary, Soleimani Afshar is an outspoken supporter of the totalitarian, terrorist regime in Iran.”
The State Department explained that Soleimani Afsha “promoted Iranian regime propaganda, celebrated attacks against American soldiers and military facilities in the Middle East, praised the new Iranian Supreme Leader,” and called the United States the “Great Satan.” The propaganda was pushed while she enjoyed a “lavish lifestyle in Los Angeles, as attested to by her frequent posting on her recently deleted Instagram account.”
Afshar’s husband has also been banned from entering the United States.
“Until recently, Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter were green card holders living lavishly in the United States. Afshar is the niece of deceased Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani. She is also an outspoken supporter of the Iranian regime who celebrated attacks on Americans and referred to our country as the ‘Great Satan,'” Rubio wrote on social media over the weekend. “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. The Trump Administration will not allow our country to become a home for foreign nationals who support anti-American terrorist regimes.”
Earlier this year, the United States revoked the privilege of Iranian officials and their families from being in the nation following the suppression of peaceful protests and the regime’s “brutal oppression.”
