Authorities in the United States have detained relatives of late Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani following the revocation of their residency status.
According to officials, Marco Rubio approved the withdrawal of legal permanent residency for Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter, who are now in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and face possible deportation.
Rubio confirmed the development, stating that the pair are “pending removal,” as part of broader actions targeting individuals allegedly linked to adversarial regimes.
He stressed that the administration “will not permit our nation to serve as a refuge for foreign nationals who endorse anti-American terrorist regimes.”
Officials accused Soleimani Afshar of expressing support for Iran’s leadership and military operations, as well as praising the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps while residing in Los Angeles.
The move is part of a wider crackdown by the administration of Donald Trump, which has included revoking visas and residency permits of individuals connected to Iranian political figures.
Soleimani, a key figure in Iran’s military structure, was killed in a US drone strike in Baghdad in January 2020, during Trump’s presidency.