Marco Rubio revokes green cards of two relatives of slain Iranian commander, turns them over 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 escalate.Qasem Soleimani, who led Iran’s Quds Force, was killed in a 2020 U.S. drone strike. It was an event that continues to shape the relationship between the two countries.Secretary of State of the United States Marco Rubio Hamideh Soleimani Afshar, Soleimani’s niece, said she and her daughter had been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and faced deportation. The move comes as the Trump administration ramps up pressure on Iran amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East.In announcing the decision, Rubio accused Afshar of supporting the Iranian government. “While living in the United States, she promoted the Iranian regime’s propaganda, celebrated attacks against U.S. soldiers and military installations in the Middle East, praised Iran’s new supreme leader, denounced the United States as the ‘Great Satan,’ and expressed unwavering support for Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is designated a terrorist organization,” the statement said.He added that Afshar had been living a comfortable life in the United States while expressing this view. “Afshar Soleimani was enjoying a lavish lifestyle in Los Angeles while promoting the propaganda of Iran’s terrorist regime, as evidenced by frequent posts from her recently deleted Instagram account,” the statement continued.Rubio said in a post onHe further said, “The Trump administration will not allow our country to become home to foreigners who support anti-American terror regimes.”According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the two women entered the United States separately in 2015, Afshar on a tourist visa and her daughter on a student visa. Afshar later applied for naturalization in 2025 and revealed that he traveled to Iran multiple times.“Her travel to Iran demonstrates that her asylum claim was fraudulent,” said Lauren Biss, acting assistant director of the Department of Homeland Security. She added: “It is a privilege to receive a green card to live in the United States of America. If we have reason to believe that a green card holder poses a threat to the United States, the green card will be revoked.”The action comes amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump recently warned Tehran to reach a ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key passage for global oil supplies. The passage carries about 20% of the world’s oil, and restrictions have caused fuel prices to rise.“Remember I gave Iran ten days to make a deal or open the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump said in a post. The MAGA leader added: “Time is running out – 48 hours until hell is upon them. Glory to God!”