Hamideh Soleimani Afshar, the niece of late Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani, and her daughter have been taken into custody by US authorities following the revocation of their lawful permanent resident status.
According to CBS News, the arrests took place after US officials accused Soleimani Afshar of promoting Iranian regime propaganda and expressing support for attacks against American forces while residing in Los Angeles. The State Department described her as “an outspoken supporter of the totalitarian, terrorist regime in Iran,” citing both media reports and her social media activity.
The development comes as part of a crackdown on individuals accused of backing regimes considered hostile to the United States.
Where is she being held?
ICE records show that Soleimani Afshar is currently being held at the South Texas Detention Facility in Pearsall, Texas.
{{/usCountry}}ICE records show that Soleimani Afshar is currently being held at the South Texas Detention Facility in Pearsall, Texas.
{{/usCountry}}Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin reported that she was initially arrested in Los Angeles before being transferred to the Texas facility. He added that her daughter, Hosseiny Sarinasadat, is also being held at the same detention centre.
CBS News separately confirmed that Soleimani Afshar is in ICE custody at the Pearsall facility, where detainees typically await immigration proceedings or deportation.
DHS flags ‘fraudulent’ asylum claim
The Department of Homeland Security said Soleimani Afshar’s 2019 asylum claim was “fraudulent,” alleging that she made multiple trips back to Iran after obtaining a green card.
Authorities are now seeking to revoke residency protections for her and her family.
“It is a privilege to be granted a green card to live in the United States of America. If we have reason to believe a green card holder poses a threat to the US, the green card will be revoked,” a DHS spokesperson said in a statement cited by CBS News.
Officials also said her husband has been barred from entering the United States.
Qassem Soleimani, a key figure in Iran’s military strategy, was killed in a US drone strike in Iraq in January 2020. He was widely seen by US officials as the architect of Iran’s regional military operations, while supporters in Iran regarded him as a national figure.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the administration would not allow the country to become a base for individuals supporting “anti-American terrorist regimes.”
Soleimani Afshar and her daughter are expected to remain in ICE custody as legal proceedings, including potential deportation, move forward.