Federal agents in Los Angeles have arrested the niece and grandniece of the late Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani, marking a sharp escalation in the U.S. Government’s crackdown on foreign nationals with ties to the Iranian leadership. The arrests of Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter follow the formal revocation of their lawful permanent resident status by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The mother and daughter are currently in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), officials confirmed on Saturday. The move is part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to purge the U.S. Of individuals it deems aligned with adversarial regimes, particularly as the U.S. And Israel continue military operations against Iran that began in late February.
In a public statement, Secretary Rubio confirmed that the pair are now pending removal from the United States. The administration has signaled that this is not an isolated incident, but rather a directive to ensure the country does not “become a home for foreign nationals who support anti-American terrorist regimes.”
National Security and the Revocation of Green Cards
The decision to strip Soleimani Afshar and her daughter of their green cards stems from allegations of active support for the Iranian government and its military wing. U.S. Officials claim that Soleimani Afshar used her social media presence to voice “unflinching support” for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the elite force tasked with protecting Iran’s theocratic system and expanding its regional influence.
Specific allegations against Soleimani Afshar include praising Iran’s new supreme leader following the death of his predecessor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a large-scale air attack at the onset of the current conflict. Officials similarly allege she celebrated military strikes targeting American personnel and referred to the United States as the “Great Satan,” a term historically used by the Iranian leadership to characterize the U.S. As a source of global corruption and evil.
The State Department highlighted a perceived contradiction between the subject’s political rhetoric and her personal life, pointing to a “lavish” lifestyle maintained in Los Angeles. Investigators reportedly used her Instagram account as primary evidence to illustrate this disparity, suggesting that while she enjoyed the protections and luxuries of U.S. Residency, she remained ideologically committed to a regime hostile to the United States.
A Pattern of Deportations
The arrest of the Soleimani relatives is the latest in a series of maneuvers targeting the families of high-ranking Iranian officials living in the U.S. This approach reflects a shift toward using immigration status as a tool of diplomatic and national security pressure.
Recently, Secretary Rubio terminated the legal status of Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani, the daughter of Ali Larijani—the former secretary of Iran’s supreme national security council. Ardeshir-Larijani and her husband, Seyed Kalantar Motamedi, have already departed the U.S. And are now subject to a permanent entry ban. In the case of Soleimani Afshar, the administration has extended these restrictions to her husband, who has also been formally prohibited from entering the United States.
The following table outlines the recent administrative actions taken against these individuals:
| Individual | Relation to Iranian Official | Current Status | Action Taken |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hamideh Soleimani Afshar | Niece of Qassem Soleimani | ICE Custody | Green Card Revoked |
| Daughter of H. Soleimani Afshar | Grandniece of Q. Soleimani | ICE Custody | Green Card Revoked |
| Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani | Daughter of Ali Larijani | Departed U.S. | Permanent Entry Ban |
| Seyed Kalantar Motamedi | Husband of F. Ardeshir-Larijani | Departed U.S. | Permanent Entry Ban |
The Shadow of Qassem Soleimani
The current tension is inextricably linked to the legacy of Qassem Soleimani, the former commander of the IRGC’s elite Quds Force. Soleimani was a central figure in Iran’s regional strategy, overseeing operations in Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon. He was killed on January 5, 2020, in a U.S. Drone strike in Baghdad during the first Trump presidency.
For Tehran, Soleimani’s death was not merely a military loss but a catalyst for a long-term vow of retribution. Former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a 2024 helicopter crash, had repeatedly stated that “revenge for martyr Soleimani’s blood is certain.” This cycle of vengeance has defined the relationship between Washington and Tehran for years, turning the relatives of the fallen general into symbolic figures in a larger geopolitical struggle.
Having reported from across the Middle East for decades, I have seen how familial ties are often weaponized in diplomacy. In the case of the Iranian diaspora in Los Angeles—often referred to as “Tehrangeles”—these arrests send a clear message to the community: legal residency is conditional upon a perceived lack of alignment with the Iranian state’s most aggressive elements.
Note: This report involves matters of U.S. Immigration law and national security. For specific legal guidance regarding permanent residency and revocation, individuals should consult a licensed immigration attorney.
The next phase for Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter will be their appearance before an immigration judge to contest the removal orders. The State Department is expected to provide further updates on the “pending removal” process as the legal proceedings unfold.
We invite you to share your thoughts on this development in the comments below or share this story via social media to join the conversation.
