U.S. Authorities Detain Relatives of Deceased Iranian Military Leader

U.S. immigration officials have taken into custody two female relatives of Qassem Soleimani, the former commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps who died in a 2020 American military strike. Hamideh Soleimani Afshar, identified as the niece of the slain general, and her daughter were arrested in Los Angeles late Friday. Their legal permanent resident status, commonly known as green cards, was revoked earlier in the week by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who determined they were ineligible to remain in the country. According to a State Department statement, the two individuals had resided for an extended period in Los Angeles, maintaining what was described as an opulent standard of living while openly expressing support for the Iranian government and its anti-American stance. The statement further noted that Afshar's husband has been barred from entering the United States. This action is part of a broader series of measures by U.S. authorities targeting Iranian nationals with ties to Tehran's government. At least four individuals connected to current or former Iranian officials have recently had their U.S. visas or residency permits canceled, with two facing deportation proceedings. These steps follow similar visa revocations last year for several Iranian diplomats and staff members at Iran's United Nations mission. The arrests occur amid ongoing diplomatic friction between the United States and Iran, which escalated significantly after the targeted killing of Soleimani near Baghdad International Airport.