Relatives of Killed Iranian General Arrested by ICE in Los Angeles

The niece and grandniece of Qasem Soleimani were taken into custody after their lawful permanent resident status was revoked.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 4:42am

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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have taken the niece and grandniece of slain Iranian general Qasem Soleimani into custody in Los Angeles. Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter were arrested after Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoked their lawful permanent resident status earlier this week, citing their promotion of Iranian regime propaganda, support for Iranian-linked terror organizations, and celebration of attacks against American soldiers.

Why it matters

The arrests of Soleimani's relatives highlight the ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran, particularly after the killing of the powerful Iranian general in 2020 by a U.S. airstrike. The move by the State Department to revoke their legal status in the U.S. reflects the Biden administration's hardline stance against those with ties to the Iranian regime.

The details

According to the State Department, Soleimani Afshar and her daughter were living 'lavishly' in Los Angeles as lawful permanent residents until their status was recently revoked. The State Department accused Soleimani Afshar of promoting Iranian regime propaganda, supporting Iranian-linked terror organizations, and celebrating attacks against American soldiers and military assets in the Middle East.

  • Qassem Soleimani was killed on January 3, 2020, in a U.S. military airstrike on his motorcade near the Baghdad airport during the first Trump administration.
  • Earlier this month, Rubio also terminated the legal U.S. status of Fatemeh Argeshir-Larijani, the daughter of former Secretary of the Supreme National Council of Iran Ali Larijani, and her husband Seyed Kanatar Motamedi.

The players

Hamideh Soleimani Afshar

The niece of Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani, who was an outspoken supporter of the Iranian regime and was living in Los Angeles as a lawful permanent resident until her status was revoked.

Marco Rubio

The U.S. Secretary of State who revoked the lawful permanent resident status of Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter.

Qasem Soleimani

The Iranian Major General who was killed in a U.S. airstrike in 2020 during the Trump administration.

Fatemeh Argeshir-Larijani

The daughter of former Secretary of the Supreme National Council of Iran Ali Larijani, whose legal U.S. status was also terminated by Rubio earlier this month.

Ali Larijani

The former Secretary of the Supreme National Council of Iran, who was reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike minutes after two Iranian state-run news agencies said he was about to release a statement about the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran.

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What they’re saying

“'Until recently, Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter were green card holders living lavishly in the United States. Afshar is the neice of Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani. She is also an outspoken supporter of the Iranian regime who celebrated attacks on Americans and referred to our country as the 'Great Satan.''”

— Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State

The takeaway

The arrests of Soleimani's relatives underscore the Biden administration's hardline stance against those with ties to the Iranian regime, even if they are lawful permanent residents in the U.S. This move is likely to further escalate tensions between the U.S. and Iran in the ongoing geopolitical conflict.