State Department Revokes Green Cards and Visas for Multiple Iranian Nationals Tied to Tehran Government, Citing Fraud and Pro‑Regime Activity, as ICE Detains Soleimani Relatives in Los Angeles
The State Department has revoked visas and green‑card status for multiple Iranian nationals tied to Tehran’s government — including Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter, and Fatemeh Ardeshir‑Larijani and her husband, Seyed Kalantar Motamedi — and says it also revoked or declined to renew visas for several Iranian diplomats at the U.N. in early December. DHS and State allege Afshar and others publicly supported the Iranian regime, celebrated anti‑American attacks and lived a “lavish lifestyle,” with DHS calling Afshar’s 2019 asylum claim fraudulent after multiple trips to Iran; Afshar and her daughter were arrested by ICE in Los Angeles and are in custody, and Afshar’s husband has been barred from entry.
📌 Key Facts
- The State Department has revoked green cards or U.S. visas for at least four Iranian nationals connected to the current or former Tehran government, not limited to members of the Soleimani family.
- Named individuals affected include Hamideh Soleimani Afshar (a niece of Iran military leader Qassem Soleimani) and her daughter, and Fatemeh Ardeshir‑Larijani (daughter of former national security adviser Ali Larijani) and her husband, Seyed Kalantar Motamedi; Fatemeh Ardeshir‑Larijani and her husband have left the United States.
- Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter had their lawful permanent resident status terminated this week and were arrested by ICE late Friday; they are currently in ICE custody.
- DHS publicly alleges Afshar’s 2019 asylum claim was fraudulent, citing at least four trips back to Iran after she obtained a green card; the State Department says Afshar’s husband has been barred from entering the U.S.
- U.S. officials characterize Afshar and her daughter as publicly supporting the Iranian regime—celebrating attacks on U.S. forces, denouncing the U.S. as the “Great Satan”—and say they lived a “lavish lifestyle” in Los Angeles; Secretary Marco Rubio posted that Afshar is an outspoken regime supporter.
- Separately, 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; State says that Dec. 4 action was unrelated to later protests or the war.
- Secretary Marco Rubio tied the latest use of this rarely invoked authority to prior actions he authorized last year against several pro‑Palestinian activists (including Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil), noting those earlier efforts have been partially stalled by federal lawsuits alleging First Amendment violations.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2024, 79% of Iranian adults in the US aged 25 and older had at least some college education, compared to 58% of the overall US adult population.
7 facts about Iranians in the U.S. — Pew Research Center
More than 90% of Iranians currently studying in the United States expressed a desire to remain in the country permanently without the intention of returning to Iran.
The Costs and Consequences of Iran's Brain Drain — Gulf International Forum
As of February 2026, the US has revoked visas for 58 Iranian officials and individuals involved in the crackdown on protests in Iran.
US revokes visas of 18 more Iranian officials over protest crackdown — The New Region
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- 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.