U.S. authorities arrested relatives of Qasem Soleimani after the State Department revoked their lawful permanent resident status, according to official and wire reports.
U.S. authorities have arrested relatives of deceased Iranian general Qasem Soleimani after the State Department revoked their lawful permanent resident status.
The State Department said late Friday that Hamideh Soleimani Afshar, Soleimani’s niece, and her daughter were taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The department also said Afshar’s husband has been barred from entering the United States.
AP, Reuters syndication, BBC News and other outlets reported the same basic facts on Saturday, citing State Department confirmation. The Reuters report said the revocations and arrests followed action by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The case adds a new flashpoint to already strained U.S.-Iran relations. Soleimani, the commander of Iran’s Quds Force, was killed in a U.S. drone strike in 2020.
The State Department has not publicly detailed the full basis for the revocation beyond the reporting cited in wire coverage. ICE has also not immediately released additional information on the arrests or any next steps.
The incident is developing, with official and wire reports confirming the arrests but leaving questions about the underlying immigration rationale and what happens next.
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