Two relatives of slain Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani are now in federal custody after being arrested by immigration authorities in Los Angeles, marking a politically charged escalation in the U.S. government’s scrutiny of foreign nationals tied to the Iranian regime.
According to the U.S. Department of State, Hamideh Soleimani Afshar — identified as Soleimani’s niece — and her daughter were taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on Friday night. Officials say both women are now facing deportation after their legal status in the United States was revoked.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the move, stating that Afshar and her daughter had been living in the U.S. as green card holders prior to the decision. He accused Afshar of publicly supporting the Iranian government and promoting anti-American rhetoric.
In a statement posted to X, Rubio alleged that Afshar had praised attacks on Americans and referred to the United States as the “Great Satan,” a phrase historically used by Iranian leadership. He added that both women’s residency privileges have now been permanently terminated and that they will remain in custody pending removal proceedings.
Officials have not announced any criminal charges against either Afshar or her daughter. The enforcement action appears to be tied to immigration and national security concerns rather than a formal prosecution.
Rubio also stated that Afshar’s husband has been barred from entering the United States, though no additional details about his status were immediately released.
The arrests come against the backdrop of longstanding tensions between the United States and Iran, particularly following the 2020 killing of Soleimani in a U.S. drone strike in Iraq — an event that triggered widespread protests and threats of retaliation across the Middle East.
At the time, the Trump administration justified the strike as a preemptive measure to stop what officials described as an imminent attack. The killing remains one of the most consequential flashpoints in recent U.S.-Iran relations.
During a recent address, Donald Trump again referenced Soleimani’s death, describing the Iranian general as both “brilliant” and “a horrible human being,” while defending the decision to carry out the strike.
The State Department has not indicated whether additional individuals connected to the Iranian regime are under review. For now, Afshar and her daughter remain in ICE custody as deportation proceedings move forward.
