The Trump administration has taken decisive action against Iranian nationals with connections to Tehran's government, revoking the green cards or U.S. visas of at least four individuals. This includes two who have been detained by immigration authorities and are now facing deportation.
Recent State Department Actions
The latest measures were implemented just this week, following a determination by Secretary of State Marco Rubio that these individuals were no longer eligible for lawful permanent resident status or entry into the United States. These steps build upon previous actions taken late last year, when visas for several diplomats and staff members at Iran's United Nations mission were also revoked.
Detention of Soleimani Relatives
In a statement released on Saturday, the State Department confirmed that the niece and grand-niece of former Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps chief Qassem Soleimani had been arrested late Friday by immigration agents. This occurred after Secretary Rubio revoked their green cards. Soleimani was killed in a U.S. airstrike near Baghdad airport in 2020.
"Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter are now in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement," the statement declared, noting that Afshar's husband has also been barred from entering the United States.
Allegations of Lavish Lifestyle and Support for Regime
According to the State Department, Afshar and her daughter had been living a "lavish lifestyle" in Los Angeles for many years while publicly supporting the Iranian government and anti-American attacks. Secretary Rubio elaborated on this in a post on X, stating that she is "an outspoken supporter of the Iranian regime who celebrated attacks on Americans and referred to our country as the 'Great Satan.'"
Rubio emphasized, "The Trump administration will not allow our country to become a home for foreign nationals who support anti-American terrorist regimes." The Iranian mission to the U.N. offered no comment on Saturday regarding these developments.
Broader Pattern of Visa Revocations
Afshar and her daughter represent just the latest Iranians to have their legal status in the U.S. rescinded by Rubio. Recently, the visas of Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani, an academic and daughter of Iran's former national security adviser Ali Larijani, were revoked. Her husband, Seyed Kalantar Motamedi, also had his visa revoked, according to the State Department. Neither individual remains in the United States.
Earlier Actions Against Iranian Diplomats
In early December, well before the surge of anti-government protests in Iran and the onset of the war, the State Department revoked or declined to renew visas for several Iranian diplomats, including the deputy ambassador, and staffers at Iran's mission to the United Nations. The department clarified on Friday that this action was taken on December 4 but declined to provide further details "for privacy and security reasons," noting it was unrelated to either the protests or the war.
These coordinated measures underscore the Trump administration's stringent approach to immigration enforcement, particularly targeting individuals with affiliations to foreign governments deemed adversarial. The revocations highlight ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran, reflecting a policy aimed at preventing supporters of the Iranian regime from residing in America.
