Federal immigration agents in Los Angeles have taken into custody two women connected to Qassem Soleimani, the Iranian military commander killed in a 2020 U.S. drone strike, according to the State Department.
The women, identified as Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter, were arrested after Secretary of State Marco Rubio terminated their lawful permanent resident status. They are now held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.
The State Department said the decision followed revelations that the niece and grandniece of Soleimani had celebrated attacks against American servicemembers.
Soleimani commanded Iran's Quds Force and was one of the Islamic Republic's most influential military figures until his assassination near Baghdad in January 2020. The strike, approved by the Trump administration, escalated U.S. tensions with Tehran significantly.
The revocation of the women's permanent resident status marks a sharp reversal in immigration policy under the returning Trump administration. Secretary Rubio has taken a hardline stance on national security matters, and this case appears to reflect heightened scrutiny of individuals with family ties to Iranian officials.
Immigration authorities did not immediately provide details about when the arrests occurred or what specific statements or actions prompted the celebration allegations. The State Department's statement offered no additional information about potential charges or legal proceedings.
The case underscores the intersection of immigration law and foreign policy, where family connections to designated adversaries of the U.S. can carry serious legal consequences for relatives living in America.
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