WASHINGTON — The United States has revoked the legal residency status of two relatives of slain Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Qasem Soleimani, with both detained by federal agents, the State Department said Saturday.Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered the termination of lawful permanent resident status for Hamideh Soleimani Afshar, identified as Soleimani’s niece, and her daughter. Both are now in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).The State Department said Afshar had expressed support for Iran’s leadership and the IRGC, which Washington designates as a terrorist organization. It also cited her social media activity, alleging she promoted Iranian government messaging and praised attacks on US personnel and military facilities.US officials added that Afshar’s husband has been barred from entering the country.In a related measure earlier this month, Rubio also revoked the legal status of Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani, daughter of former Iranian National Security Council secretary Ali Larijani, along with her husband Seyed Kalantar Motamedi. Both have since left the US and are barred from reentry.The department said the actions were carried out in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security and ICE, stressing that individuals supporting what it described as anti-American terrorist entities would not be allowed to reside in the country.The move comes amid the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran.WASHINGTON — The United States has revoked the legal residency status of two relatives of slain Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Qasem Soleimani, with both detained by federal agents, the State Department said Saturday.Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered the termination of lawful permanent resident status for Hamideh Soleimani Afshar, identified as Soleimani’s niece, and her daughter. Both are now in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).The State Department said Afshar had expressed support for Iran’s leadership and the IRGC, which Washington designates as a terrorist organization. It also cited her social media activity, alleging she promoted Iranian government messaging and praised attacks on US personnel and military facilities.US officials added that Afshar’s husband has been barred from entering the country.In a related measure earlier this month, Rubio also revoked the legal status of Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani, daughter of former Iranian National Security Council secretary Ali Larijani, along with her husband Seyed Kalantar Motamedi. Both have since left the US and are barred from reentry.The department said the actions were carried out in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security and ICE, stressing that individuals supporting what it described as anti-American terrorist entities would not be allowed to reside in the country.The move comes amid the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran.
