US federal agents took Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter into custody on Saturday. The state department announced that Marco Rubio, as secretary of state, revoked their lawful permanent resident status beforehand.
Officials alleged that Soleimani Afshar celebrated attacks against US soldiers and praised Iran's new supreme leader after a military strike. The state department's statement claimed she labeled the US the "Great Satan" and voiced "unflinching support" for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. US officials pointed to her Instagram account as evidence of a "lavish" lifestyle.
The state department said, "Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter are now in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement." Marco Rubio confirmed on social media that the pair are "pending removal" from the US. Rubio's statement added that the Trump administration "will not allow our country to become a home for foreign nationals who support anti-American terrorist regimes."
Rubio also terminated the legal status of Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani and her husband, Seyed Kalantar Motamedi, leading to their departure from the US. Both individuals face a permanent entry ban, officials noted. In early December, the US state department revoked visas for several Iranian diplomats, including staff at Iran's mission to the United Nations.
Soleimani Afshar's husband now faces a formal prohibition from entering the US. Qassem Soleimani, her father, died in a 2020 US drone strike at age 62.
US federal agents took Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter into custody on Saturday. The state department announced that Marco Rubio, as secretary of state, revoked their lawful permanent resident status beforehand. This action affects two individuals living in Los Angeles, potentially altering their access to US residency and raising questions about family separations in immigration enforcement.
Officials alleged that Soleimani Afshar celebrated attacks against US soldiers and praised Iran's new supreme leader after a military strike. The state department's statement claimed she labeled the US the "Great Satan" and voiced "unflinching support" for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. Her Instagram account showed evidence of a "lavish" lifestyle, which US authorities linked to her alleged ties to anti-American activities.
The state department said, “Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter are now in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.” Marco Rubio confirmed on social media that the pair are “pending removal” from the US. Rubio's statement added that the Trump administration “will not allow our country to become a home for foreign nationals who support anti-American terrorist regimes.”
Rubio also terminated the legal status of Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani and her husband, Seyed Kalantar Motamedi, leading to their departure from the US. Both individuals face a permanent entry ban, officials noted. In early December, the US state department revoked visas for several Iranian diplomats, including staff at Iran's mission to the United Nations.
Soleimani Afshar's husband now faces a formal prohibition from entering the US, cutting off family ties. Qassem Soleimani, her father, died in a 2020 US drone strike at age 62, a fact officials tied to ongoing tensions. This arrest highlights how relatives of key Iranian figures encounter direct consequences in their daily lives.
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The sources also report that the revoked visas included Iran's deputy ambassador.