WASHINGTON — Federal officials have canceled the legal immigration status of at least four Iranian citizens who had ties to Iran’s current or previous government leadership, with two individuals now detained by immigration officers awaiting removal from the country.
These recent decisions occurred this week after Secretary of State Marco Rubio concluded the individuals no longer qualified for permanent resident privileges or permission to remain in America. The moves build upon earlier actions from late last year when officials also canceled documentation for multiple diplomats and staff members working at Iran’s United Nations mission.
According to a Saturday announcement from the State Department, immigration agents arrested the niece and grand-niece of deceased Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps leader Qassem Soleimani on Friday evening following Rubio’s decision to cancel their permanent resident cards. Soleimani died in an American military strike at Baghdad’s airport during 2020.
“Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter are now in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement,” the announcement stated, noting that Afshar’s spouse has also been prohibited from entering American territory.
According to the official statement, Afshar and her daughter had maintained an extravagant way of life in Los Angeles over many years while openly endorsing Iran’s government and attacks against Americans.
Describing her as “an outspoken supporter of the Iranian regime who celebrated attacks on Americans and referred to our country as the ‘Great Satan,’” Rubio wrote on X. “The Trump administration will not allow our country to become a home for foreign nationals who support anti-American terrorist regimes.”
Iran’s United Nations mission declined to provide any response on Saturday.
These two women represent the most recent Iranians whose American legal standing has been eliminated by Rubio, who also recently canceled documentation for Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani, a scholar and daughter of Iran’s previous national security advisor Ali Larijani, who died in a joint U.S.-Israeli military operation last month. Officials also revoked her spouse Seyed Kalantar Motamedi’s documentation, though neither individual remains on American soil.
During early December, well ahead of widespread anti-government demonstrations in Iran and current military conflicts, the State Department canceled or refused to extend documentation for multiple Iranian diplomatic personnel, including the deputy representative and other staff at Iran’s United Nations office.
Officials confirmed Friday that these measures occurred on December 4th but refused additional details “for privacy and security reasons,” noting only that the timing was unconnected to either the demonstrations or ongoing warfare.
