Marco Rubio revokes green cards of 2 relatives of slain Iranian commander, hands them to ICE for deportation

The United States has revoked the green cards of two relatives of slain Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani, as tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to rise.Qasem Soleimani led Iran’s Quds Force and was killed in a US drone strike in 2020. It was an event that continues to shape relations between the two countries.US secretary of state Marco Rubio said Hamideh Soleimani Afshar, identified as Soleimani’s niece, and her daughter have been taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and are facing deportation. The move comes as the Trump administration increases pressure on Iran amid an ongoing conflict in the Middle East.Announcing the decision, Rubio accused Afshar of supporting the Iranian government. “While living in the United States, she promoted Iranian regime propaganda, celebrated attacks against American soldiers and military facilities in the Middle East, praised the new Iranian Supreme Leader, denounced America as the ‘Great Satan,’ and voiced her unflinching support for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, a designated terror organization,” the statement reads.He added that Afshar had been living comfortably in US while expressing such views. “Afshar Soleimani pushed this propaganda for Iran’s terrorist regime while enjoying a lavish lifestyle in Los Angeles, as attested to by her frequent posting on her recently deleted Instagram account,” it continued.In a post on X, Rubio said, “Until recently, Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter were green card holders living lavishly in the United States. 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.”He further said, “The Trump Administration will not allow our country to become a home for foreign nationals who support anti-American terrorist regimes.”According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the two women entered US separately in 2015, with Afshar arriving on a tourist visa and her daughter on a student visa. Afshar later applied for naturalisation in 2025 and disclosed multiple trips to Iran.“Her trips to Iran illustrate her asylum claims were fraudulent,” Acting Assistant Homeland Security Director Lauren Bis said. She added: “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 US, the green card will be revoked.”The action comes at a time of rising tensions between the US and Iran. US President Donald Trump has recently warned Tehran to reach a ceasefire deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil supplies. The passage carries about 20 percent of the world’s oil, and restrictions have already led to higher fuel prices.“Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT,” Trump said in a post. The MAGA leader added: “Time is running out — 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them. Glory be to GOD!”