Soleimani's kin detained: u.s. revokes green cards, cites propaganda

Washington – In a move signaling a hardening stance against Iranian influence within U.S. borders, Hamideh Soleimani Afshar, niece of slain Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander Qasem Soleimani, and her daughter were taken into custody Friday night. The U.S. government terminated their permanent resident status, alleging years of pro-regime activity while enjoying life in Los Angeles.

A decade of disloyalty, exposed

The State Department’s Saturday statement didn’t mince words. According to officials, Soleimani Afshar actively promoted Iranian regime propaganda, openly celebrated attacks against U.S. forces in the Middle East, and frequently denigrated the United States with rhetoric branding it the “Great Satan.” All this, while benefiting from the privileges afforded to green card holders.

The issue, however, isn't just about expressing a political viewpoint. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has determined that Soleimani Afshar’s 2019 asylum claim was “fraudulent,” citing documented trips back to Iran, as many as four, after receiving her green card. Her husband has also had his entry to the U.S. blocked, and the government is now pursuing deportation proceedings for the entire family.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, invoking rarely used powers, also terminated the legal status of Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani, daughter of former Iranian security official Ali Larijani, and her husband. Larijani himself was reportedly killed in an airstrike last month, further complicating the already tense geopolitical landscape.

Rubio, in a statement posted on X, declared, “The Trump Administration will not allow our country to become a home for foreign nationals who support anti-American terrorist regimes.” This echoes a similar move last year targeting pro-Palestinian activists, though those actions faced legal challenges citing free speech concerns. The legal battles will likely intensify in this case as well.

Qasem Soleimani, the architect of Iran’s regional military strategy, was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Iraq in January 2020. A figure once largely unknown within Iran until the 2003 invasion, Soleimani’s rise to prominence was fueled by his involvement in supplying roadside bombs to insurgents targeting U.S. troops. His death transformed him into a national icon within Iran’s theocratic establishment. The swift action against his family underscores the Biden administration's willingness to confront perceived threats, even those with deep roots within the Iranian diaspora.

A DHS spokesperson stated, “It is a privilege to be granted a green card to live in the United States of America. If we have reason to believe a green card holder poses a threat to the U.S., the green card will be revoked.” The speed with which these revocations and detentions have occurred suggests a concerted effort to identify and remove individuals deemed sympathetic to adversarial regimes.

Beyond soleimani's niece: a broader crackdown?

The cases of Soleimani Afshar and Larijani’s daughter highlight a potential shift in U.S. immigration policy, one that prioritizes national security concerns over traditional due process considerations. While the legal challenges ahead are significant, the government's message is clear: allegiance to a hostile foreign power will not be tolerated within U.S. borders.