US arrests two relatives of slain Iranian general after residency revoked

Insights

• Two relatives of Qassem Soleimani, identified as niece Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter, were arrested and are in ICE custody after their lawful permanent resident status was revoked.
• The State Department said the residency terminations followed social media commentary and reporting that tied Soleimani Afshar to support for Iran and praise for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
• Soleimani was killed in a US strike in Baghdad in January 2020, and US officials said they will bar foreign nationals who support hostile regimes from remaining in the country.
• Relatives of another slain Iranian official, Ali Larijani, also had their US legal status terminated and are barred from future entry, the State Department said.