US authorities detain relatives of the late Iranian general Qasem Soleimani

US federal agents have detained Hamideh Soleimani Afshar, the niece of the late Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, and her daughter. The arrests followed a decision by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to revoke their permanent resident status, commonly known as green cards. According to the US Department of State, the two individuals are now in the custody of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. US officials justified the action by claiming that Afshar had expressed support for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and allegedly celebrated attacks against American personnel. Officials also cited her social media activity and alleged that her husband has been banned from entering the United States. General Qasem Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike in Baghdad in 2020. This detention marks a significant escalation in the legal actions taken against the late general's family members residing in the US. No specific timeframe for deportation or further legal proceedings was provided by the State Department.