US authorities arrest relatives of late Iranian military commander who were living in Los Angeles

The Guardian US News
by Marina Dunbar
April 4, 2026
2 views
3 min read

Quick Insights

The Bottom Line

The Trump administration revoked green cards and arrested the niece and grandniece of deceased Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in Los Angeles.

How This Affects You

Lawful permanent residents can have their status revoked based on statements or associations; this signals expanded grounds for deportation of family members of foreign officials.

AI Summary

Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoked the lawful permanent resident status of Qassem Soleimani's niece and grandniece, Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter, resulting in their arrest by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Los Angeles. The State Department said the two women celebrated attacks against US soldiers, leading to their removal from the country. Soleimani, a prominent Iranian military commander, was killed in a 2020 US drone strike. The action reflects the Trump administration's hardline stance toward Iran and individuals with ties to the Iranian government. The revocation and subsequent detention signals a willingness to strip citizenship protections from family members of Iranian officials based on their statements or associations.

What's Being Done

Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoked their status, and ICE arrested and detained both women for removal from the country.

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