Family members of slain Iranian General Qasem Soleimani were arrested by federal immigration agents after their lawful permanent resident status was revoked by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The State Department announced in a Saturday press release that Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter, identified as the niece and grandniece of the deceased Iranian major general, were taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.
Qasem Soleimani was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad in January 2020. He was the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force, which the United States has designated as a terrorist organization.
What the Left Is Saying
Civil liberties advocates and some progressive lawmakers are likely to raise concerns about the revocation of legal permanent resident status based on political speech and associations. Critics may argue that the action could set a precedent for revoking green cards based on expressive activities, raising due process questions.
Democratic lawmakers have previously expressed concerns about the scope of visa revocations under the Trump administration, arguing that such actions could ensnare individuals who have not engaged in criminal conduct. Immigration advocacy groups have challenged similar revocations as violating constitutional protections.
Some observers may note that the individuals were lawful permanent residents who had lived in the United States for years, and question whether revocation based on political speech aligns with traditional interpretations of immigration law. The American Civil Liberties Union has previously challenged visa revocations on First Amendment grounds.
What the Right Is Saying
Supporters of the administration argue that the revocation of legal status is a legitimate exercise of federal authority to protect national security. Administration officials have stated that the United States should not serve as a haven for individuals who support terrorist organizations or hostile foreign regimes.
Secretary Rubio stated in a post on X that the Trump administration 'will not allow our country to become a home for foreign nationals who support anti-American terrorist regimes.' The State Department characterized the individuals as supporters of a 'totalitarian, terrorist regime in Iran.'
Conservative commentators have praised the action as a necessary measure to enforce immigration laws and prevent individuals with hostile intentions from remaining in the United States. They argue that green card holders who celebrate attacks on American military personnel or promote terrorist propaganda should not be allowed to stay.
The administration has taken similar actions against other individuals with connections to Iranian officials, including revoking the legal status of family members of former Iranian security officials.
What the Numbers Show
Qasem Soleimani was killed in a U.S. drone strike on January 3, 2020, in Baghdad, Iraq. He was the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force, which the U.S. designated as a foreign terrorist organization in 2019.
The State Department has also revoked the legal status of Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani, whose father was Ali Larijani, the late Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran. Her husband Seyed Kalantar Motamedi was also affected.
Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter were green card holders living in the Los Angeles area, according to social media posts and reporting. Their Instagram accounts have been deleted.
Under U.S. immigration law, the Secretary of State has authority to revoke visas and legal status in certain circumstances, including when the individual is deemed inadmissible on grounds related to terrorism or foreign policy concerns.
The Bottom Line
The arrest of Qasem Soleimani's family members represents one of the most visible enforcement actions against individuals with connections to designated terrorist organizations since the 2020 strike that killed the Iranian general. The State Department has indicated it will continue to review the legal status of others who support designated terrorist groups.
The individuals are currently in ICE custody pending removal proceedings. Their husband's future entry into the United States has also been barred, according to the State Department.
Legal challenges to the revocation of LPR status are likely, which could test the boundaries of executive authority in immigration enforcement. The outcome may establish precedent for similar future cases involving individuals whose family members are associated with designated terrorist organizations.
What to watch: Whether legal challenges emerge, the outcome of removal proceedings, and whether additional individuals with connections to Iranian officials face similar actions.