US detains 'anti-American' kin of slain Iranian Commander Qasem Soleimani

WASHINGTON, DC: US authorities have detained the niece and grand-niece of slain Iranian Commander Qasem Soleimani after revoking their lawful permanent resident status, according to the State Department.

Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter were arrested on Friday night and are now in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Saturday, April 4. 

Washington cites alleged pro-regime activities

In a statement, the State Department accused Soleimani Afshar of promoting Iranian government propaganda and expressing support for attacks against US forces in the Middle East.

Officials also alleged that she publicly denounced the United States while residing in Los Angeles, describing her as “an outspoken supporter” of what they termed a “totalitarian” regime.

Authorities said her husband has also been barred from entering the United States as part of the action.

The move is part of a broader policy targeting foreign nationals accused of supporting adversarial governments.

Earlier actions against senior Iranian-linked individuals

Earlier this month, Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoked the legal status of Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani, daughter of Ali Larijani, a senior Iranian official, along with her husband Seyed Kalantar Motamedi. Both are no longer in the United States.

The crackdown reflects a firmer posture by the administration of President Donald Trump on individuals alleged to have ties to governments viewed as hostile to the US.

“The administration will not allow our country to become a home for foreign nationals who support anti-American regimes,” Rubio said in a statement posted on social media.

The arrests mark a significant extension of geopolitical tensions into domestic enforcement measures, as Washington intensifies scrutiny of individuals linked, directly or indirectly, to Iran’s political and military establishment.