Who is Hamideh Soleimani Afshar? ICE arrests slain Iranian Gen. Soleimani's niece and grandniece in Los Angeles

ICE arrested Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter as part of intensified US measures to revoke green cards for foreign nationals associated with Iran.

Updated on: Apr 4, 2026, 21:19:50 IST

By Shweta Kukreti

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Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested the niece and grandniece of the deceased Iranian figure Gen. Qasem Soleimani were taken into custody by US authorities, announced the State Department on Saturday.

The niece and grandniece of Gen. Qasem Soleimani were arrested by ICE in Los Angeles. (AFP)

Qasem Soleimani, the commander of the infamous Iranian Revolutionary Guard, was assassinated in a drone strike authorized by President Donald Trump close to the Baghdad International Airport in Iraq in 2020.

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Who is Hamideh Soleimani Afshar?

Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter, who enjoy an extravagant lifestyle in Los Angeles, were apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Friday, as the US intensifies efforts to revoke Green Cards for foreign nationals connected to Iran amid ongoing tensions with the regime.

Why has ICE arrested Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter?

According to the State Department, Hamideh Soleimani advocated for the propaganda of the Iranian regime, commended assaults on American military personnel and installations in the Middle East, lauded the newly appointed Iranian Supreme Leader

“While living in the United States, she promoted Iranian regime propaganda, celebrated attacks against American soldiers and military facilities in the Middle East, praised the new Iranian Supreme Leader, denounced America as the ‘Great Satan,’ and voiced her unflinching support for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, a designated terror organization,” a letter from the State Department states.

Afshar's husband barred from entering US

In addition to the revocation of Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter’s LPR status, Afshar’s husband has also been prohibited from entering the United States.

Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani's legal status revoked

The move comes after State Secretary Marco Rubio also revoked the legal status of Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani, the daughter of former Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, Ali Larijani, along with her husband, Seyed Kalantar Motamedi. Both Ardeshir-Larijani and Motamedi are no longer present in the US and are prohibited from future entry.

The U.S. Department of State expresses its gratitude to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for their ongoing partnership and collaboration in ensuring the safety of Americans.

“The Trump Administration will not allow our country to become a home for foreign nationals who support anti-American terrorist regimes,” the State Department said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shweta Kukreti
Shweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics. She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events. Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics. In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World. Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC). She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh. She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.Read More

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