USCIS Flags Vetting Failures as State Department Revokes Green Cards for Soleimani Relatives and Other Iranian Nationals Tied to Tehran Regime
The State Department has revoked green cards and visas for several Iranian nationals tied to Tehran — including Qasem Soleimani’s niece Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter, who were arrested by ICE after officials said they were no longer eligible for lawful permanent residency, and at least two others such as academic Fatemeh Ardeshir‑Larijani and her husband — with authorities alleging Afshar publicly supported the Iranian regime, lived lavishly in Los Angeles, and that her 2019 asylum claim was fraudulent. Separately, USCIS disclosed an internal review finding prior vetting of naturalization and permanent‑residence applicants from "high‑risk" countries was "wholly inadequate," has placed holds and re‑reviews on pending applications (including potential re‑interviews for those admitted since Jan. 20, 2021), and acknowledged some individuals were approved or naturalized who "should not have been."
📌 Key Facts
- USCIS issued a March 30 alert saying an internal review found prior screening and vetting were "wholly inadequate," acknowledged that some individuals were approved and naturalized who "should not have been," and has placed a hold and review on pending asylum and immigration‑benefit applications from "high‑risk countries" with plans for comprehensive re‑reviews and possible (re)interviews for applicants who entered the U.S. on or after President Biden took office (with authority to extend this review).
- The State Department has revoked green cards or U.S. visas for at least four Iranian nationals connected to the current or former Iranian government, not limited to relatives of Qasem Soleimani.
- Among those whose status was revoked are Hamideh Soleimani Afshar (identified in reports as Qasem Soleimani’s niece) and a female relative reported as her daughter or grandniece, Sarinasadat Hosseiny; Afshar’s lawful permanent resident status was terminated, DHS alleges her 2019 asylum claim was fraudulent (citing multiple return trips to Iran), and Afshar and the relative were arrested late Friday and are currently in ICE custody.
- The State Department said Afshar and the relative publicly supported the Iranian government, promoted regime propaganda, celebrated attacks on U.S. forces, denounced the U.S. as the "Great Satan," and lived what officials described as a "lavish lifestyle" in Los Angeles; Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly labeled Afshar an outspoken regime supporter using similar language.
- Other named individuals affected include Fatemeh Ardeshir‑Larijani, an academic and daughter of former Iranian national security adviser Ali Larijani, and her husband Seyed Kalantar Motamedi, whose visas were also revoked and who have left the United States.
- The State Department earlier (Dec. 4) revoked or declined to renew visas for several Iranian diplomats and staff at Iran’s U.N. mission, including the deputy ambassador, and said that December action was unrelated to later protests or the war.
- Fox News and DHS statements explicitly link the USCIS vetting gaps to how Soleimani’s relatives obtained lawful permanent status prior to the revocations.
- Sen. Marco Rubio tied the current use of this rarely invoked authority to his prior actions last year against several pro‑Palestinian activists (including Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil), and noted those earlier efforts have been partly delayed by federal lawsuits alleging First Amendment violations.
📊 Relevant Data
As of 2024, there were approximately 750,000 Iranian Americans in the United States, comprising 0.2% of the total U.S. population, with the population having grown by more than 53% since 2000.
7 facts about Iranians in the U.S. — Pew Research Center
Immigration from Iran to the United States increased dramatically following the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War, with many arriving as refugees or asylum seekers due to political unrest and instability.
Immigrants from Iran in the United States — Migration Policy Institute
In 2025, the U.S. State Department revoked over 100,000 visas, including for reasons such as overstays, driving under the influence, assault, and theft, marking a more than 150% increase from previous years and including national security-related revocations.
US revoked over 100,000 visas in 2025, a 150% increase — Yeni Şafak
In March 2026, a federal grand jury charged alleged Iranian spies with ties to regime officials for infiltrating Silicon Valley, highlighting instances of espionage activities by Iranian nationals in the U.S.
Alleged Iranian spies are already in the US — New York Post
📰 Source Timeline (4)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- USCIS issued a March 30 alert saying an internal review found prior screening and vetting measures were 'wholly inadequate' and that 'many applicants for naturalization and lawful permanent residence were not sufficiently vetted.'
- USCIS acknowledged that some individuals were approved and naturalized who 'should not have been.'
- In response, USCIS has placed a hold and review on all pending asylum and immigration‑benefit applications filed by aliens from 'high‑risk countries' and will conduct a comprehensive re‑review and potential (re)interviews for all such applicants who entered the U.S. on or after the day Joe Biden took office, with authority to extend this to others.
- The Fox report explicitly links these vetting gaps to how Qasem Soleimani’s niece, Hamideh Soleimani Afshar, and grandniece, Sarinasadat Hosseiny, were able to gain lawful permanent status before their recent arrests in Los Angeles.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s public statement is quoted more fully, including his description of Soleimani Afshar as an 'outspoken supporter of the Iranian regime' who 'celebrated attacks on Americans and referred to our country as the "Great Satan."'
- DHS now publicly alleges Hamideh Soleimani Afshar’s 2019 asylum claim was "fraudulent," citing at least four trips back to Iran after she obtained a green card.
- The article confirms Afshar’s lawful permanent resident status has been terminated and that she and her daughter were arrested Friday night and are currently in ICE custody.
- The State Department says Afshar’s husband has been barred from entering the U.S.
- The piece details government rhetoric that Afshar promoted Iranian regime propaganda, celebrated attacks on U.S. forces, denounced America as the "Great Satan," and lived what officials describe as a "lavish lifestyle" in Los Angeles.
- Secretary Marco Rubio explicitly links this action to his use of the same rarely used authority last year against several pro‑Palestinian activists, including Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil, and notes those efforts have been partially stalled by federal lawsuits alleging First Amendment violations.
- The article adds background that top Iranian security official Ali Larijani was killed in an airstrike last month and that his daughter Fatemeh Ardeshir‑Larijani and her husband have left the United States.
- Confirms that at least four Iranian nationals connected to the current or former Iranian government have had either green cards or U.S. visas revoked, not just Soleimani’s niece and daughter.
- Names additional affected individuals: Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani, an academic and daughter of former Iranian national security adviser Ali Larijani, and her husband, Seyed Kalantar Motamedi, whose visas were also revoked.
- Clarifies that the actions against Soleimani’s niece Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter were taken 'this week' when Secretary of State Marco Rubio determined they were no longer eligible for lawful permanent residency, leading to their late-Friday ICE arrests.
- Adds State Department characterization that Afshar and her daughter had been living a 'lavish lifestyle' in Los Angeles while publicly supporting the Iranian government and anti-American attacks, and quotes Rubio’s X post labeling Afshar an outspoken supporter of the regime who called the U.S. the 'Great Satan.'
- Reveals that in early December the State Department revoked or declined to renew visas for several Iranian diplomats and staffers at Iran’s mission to the United Nations, including the deputy ambassador, and that State says that move on Dec. 4 was unrelated to later protests or the war.