HIGHINTELLIGENCEVERIFIED
US arrests niece and grand-niece of Qassem Soleimani after Rubio revokes green cards
·United States
US federal agents arrested Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter — the niece and grand-niece of slain IRGC commander Qassem Soleimani — after Secretary of State Rubio revoked their lawful permanent resident status. Both are in ICE custody.
US federal agents arrested Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter on April 4 after Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoked their lawful permanent resident (green card) status. The State Department confirmed: 'Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter are now in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.' Hamideh is the niece of Qassem Soleimani, the IRGC Quds Force commander killed in a US drone strike in Baghdad in January 2020. The arrests come as the US is engaged in active combat operations against Iran. The action reflects the Trump administration's use of immigration enforcement as a wartime tool to pressure Iran-linked individuals on US soil.
SoleimaniICERubioimmigrationIran-linkedarrest
Actor responses
Rubio revokes green cards of Soleimani's niece and grand-niece; both taken into ICE custody. State Department confirms.
Iran has not yet responded to the arrest of Soleimani's relatives.
Sources
T1US State Department10% reliability