LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Two relatives of the deceased Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Major Gen. Qasem Soleimani are now in federal custody after being arrested by immigration agents in Los Angeles on Friday night.
The two are among a number of Iranians to have their legal status in the U.S. revoked for allegedly supporting the terrorist regime in Iran.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Hamideh Soleimani Afshar, the niece of Soleimani, and her daughter were taken into ICE custody in Los Angeles and will be deported back to Iran.
The state department says Soleimani’s niece and grandniece were living a “lavish lifestyle” in Los Angeles, and at least one of them promoted propaganda from the Iranian regime and celebrated attacks on Americans.
“Until recently, Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter were green card holders living lavishly in the United States. Afshar is the niece of deceased Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani. She is also an outspoken supporter of the Iranian regime who celebrated attacks on Americans and referred to our country as the ‘Great Satan,'” Rubio said in a post on X.
“This week, I terminated both Afshar and her daughter’s legal status and they are now in ICE custody, pending removal from the United States. The Trump Administration will not allow our country to become a home for foreign nationals who support anti-American terrorist regimes,” Rubio continued.
Afshar’s husband has also been barred from entering the United States, according to Rubio. The State Department did not announce any charges against Afshar or her daughter.
In 2020, fiery protests erupted in the Middle East when Soleimani was assassinated by the Trump administration during a targeted strike while he was visiting Iraq.
At the time, U.S. officials justified the Soleimani strike, saying it was necessary to stop an “imminent attack.”
On Wednesday, Trump referenced the killing of the major general during his address to Americans about the war in Iran.
“He was an evil genius, brilliant person, a horrible human being, however,” Trump said. “Had he lived, we would have had, probably, a different conversation tonight. But you know what? We’d still be winning and winning big.”
Afshar and her daughter’s green cards are now permanently revoked.
ABC News contributed to this report.
Copyright © 2026 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.