State Department Revokes Green Cards for Qassem Soleimani Niece and Daughter, ICE Detains Them in Los Angeles
The State Department says Secretary of State Marco Rubio has terminated lawful permanent resident status for Hamideh Soleimani Afshar, identified as a niece of slain Iranian IRGC Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, and for her daughter, leading to their arrest by ICE in Los Angeles on Friday. In a Saturday statement and posts on X, Rubio accused Afshar of being an outspoken supporter of Iran’s "totalitarian, terrorist" regime who celebrated attacks on U.S. troops, praised Iran’s new supreme leader, and voiced support for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization. DHS officials told Fox News that Afshar entered the U.S. on a tourist visa in June 2015, was granted asylum in 2019 and a green card in 2021 under the Biden administration, but later disclosed at least four trips back to Iran on a July 2025 naturalization application that they now argue show her asylum claim was fraudulent; her daughter followed a similar path from a 2015 student visa to asylum and a 2023 green card. A DHS spokesperson framed green cards as a "privilege" that can be revoked when authorities "have reason to believe" a holder poses a threat, while critics and commentators online are already questioning the legal basis for using public speech and post‑asylum travel to justify stripping permanent residency, especially during a politically charged war with Iran.
📌 Key Facts
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoked the green cards of Hamideh Soleimani Afshar, described as Qassem Soleimani’s niece, and her daughter, and announced both are now in ICE custody pending removal.
- DHS says Afshar entered on a tourist visa in June 2015, received asylum in 2019 and a green card in 2021, and later disclosed at least four trips to Iran on a July 2025 naturalization application that officials call evidence her asylum claim was fraudulent.
- The State Department alleges Afshar used her time in the U.S. to promote Iranian regime propaganda, celebrate attacks on U.S. soldiers and facilities, praise Iran’s new supreme leader, denounce America as the "Great Satan," and support the IRGC, a designated terrorist organization.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2026, California has the highest number of Iranian-origin residents in the US at 210,128 individuals, representing 0.54% of the state's population, with Los Angeles County alone home to about 86,430 people of Persian ancestry.
Iranian Population by State 2026 — World Population Review
Asylum grant rates for Iranian applicants in the US have varied, with EOIR data showing grant rates around 60-80% for Iranians in recent fiscal years, compared to an overall asylum grant rate that fell to about 19% in August 2025.
Immigration Court Asylum Grant Rates Cut in Half — TRAC Reports
In 2025, USCIS made 13,225 referrals to ICE for immigration benefit fraud, public safety, and national security concerns, though specific revocations for terrorism support remain rare, with the Trump administration revoking visas for such reasons in targeted cases.
DHS Strengthens Integrity in Nation's Immigration System — USCIS
Post-2015 Iranian migration to the US has been driven by economic downturns, political repression, and sanctions, leading to brain drain, with many highly educated Iranians seeking better opportunities abroad.
Iran Loses Highly Educated and Skilled Citizens — Migration Policy Institute
About 59% of Iranians in the US are immigrants, making up 0.9% of all US immigrants, with growth fueled by US-born generations and primary pathways including employment and humanitarian protection.
7 facts about Iranians in the U.S. — Pew Research Center
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