On April 4, 2026, Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement confirming the arrest of Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following the termination of their lawful permanent resident status. The decision was based on claims that Afshar has been an outspoken supporter of the Iranian government and has celebrated attacks against U.S. interests.

Soleimani, the former commander of the Quds Force, was killed by a U.S. drone strike in January 2020. The State Department has characterized Afshar as a vocal advocate for the Iranian regime, stating she has expressed admiration for Iran's Supreme Leader and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which the U.S. designates as a terrorist organization.

Rubio's actions represent an ongoing campaign by the U.S. government to scrutinize and potentially revoke residency for individuals perceived as threats to national security. The State Department highlighted that Afshar allegedly lived a lavish lifestyle in Los Angeles while promoting Iranian propaganda, including denouncing the United States as the "Great Satan."

Afshar’s legal trajectory began in 2015 when she entered the U.S. on a tourist visa and was granted asylum in 2019. By 2021, she had officially become a green card holder. However, her travel history to Iran, including at least four trips since her residency status was granted, raised red flags regarding the authenticity of her asylum claims.

The repercussions extend beyond Afshar, as her husband has also been barred from entering the U.S., indicating a broader effort to tighten the scrutiny of individuals with connections to Iran's leadership. This action aligns with a recent trend where various Iranian nationals associated with the regime have faced similar visa revocations amid heightened U.S.-Iran tensions.