US Revokes Residency and Arrests Relatives of Iranian Commander Qassem Soleimani
In Brief
The arrests highlight ongoing tensions between the US and Iran, as immigration actions target relatives of Iranian officials.
Key Facts
- Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter, relatives of Qassem Soleimani, had their US green cards revoked.
- US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has taken both women into custody, according to officials cited by The Guardian and BBC.
- The US State Department has accused Hamideh Soleimani Afshar of being an 'outspoken supporter' of Iran, according to Al Jazeera.
- The two women were granted US asylum in 2019, according to officials.
- Reports state that US authorities have moved to strip the women of their green cards, according to CBS News.
What Happened
US authorities revoked the green cards of Qassem Soleimani’s niece and grandniece and took them into custody. The women are now in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to multiple sources.
Why It Matters
The incident reflects heightened scrutiny of individuals linked to the Iranian government and may influence future US-Iran relations and immigration policy for those with government ties.
What's Next
The detained women face deportation proceedings. Further actions against other Iranian nationals with US residency or visas may follow, according to some reports.
Sources
- Al Jazeera — Top diplomat Marco Rubio strips Qassem Soleimani’s niece of US residency(4h ago)
- CBS News — Family of Iran military leader Soleimani has U.S. residence visas revoked(1h ago)
- The Guardian — US authorities arrest relatives of late Iranian military commander who were living in Los Angeles(5h ago)