US detains relatives of Qassem Soleimani after revoking residency

WASHINGTON: US federal agents have detained the niece and grandniece of late Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani after Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoked their lawful permanent resident status, the State Department said.

“Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter are now in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement,” the department confirmed in a statement, adding that their green cards had been cancelled.

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The move comes amid heightened tensions as the US-Israeli conflict with Iran continues to escalate.

Officials alleged that Afshar supported the Iranian government and its propaganda, while her husband has also been barred from entering the United States.

Qassem Soleimani, a senior Iranian commander, was killed in a US airstrike in Baghdad in January 2020 during the presidency of Donald Trump.

In a related development, the State Department said it had also revoked the legal status of Fatemeh Ardeshir Larijani, daughter of Ali Larijani, along with her husband. The pair are no longer in the US and have been barred from future entry.

The actions reflect a broader tightening of immigration enforcement under the current administration, which has stepped up deportation efforts citing national security concerns.

However, rights advocates have raised questions over due process and freedom of expression, noting that several detainees in similar cases have later been released following court orders.