U.S. Accuses Hamideh Soleimani Afshar of Supporting Iran's Regime, Deports Her in Trump's Campaign

The U.S. State Department has accused Hamideh Soleimani Afshar, niece of the late Iranian Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani, of being an "outspoken supporter" of Iran's regime. In a statement released Saturday, the department confirmed that Afshar and her daughter were arrested Friday night and are now being held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while the U.S. seeks their removal from the country. The action follows a broader campaign by the Trump administration to strip legal status from individuals linked to Iranian officials, raising questions about the limits of free speech and the consequences of familial ties to foreign leaders.

Afshar, who lived a "lavish lifestyle" in Los Angeles, was cited by the State Department for social media posts and media appearances that allegedly celebrated attacks on Americans and referred to the U.S. as the "Great Satan." Secretary of State Marco Rubio took credit for revoking the women's green cards, calling Afshar an "outspoken supporter" of Iran's "totalitarian, terrorist regime." "The Trump Administration will not allow our country to become a home for foreign nationals who support anti-American terrorist regimes," the statement read. However, Iranian media quoted Zeinab Soleimani, the daughter of the late Quds Force leader, as denying any connection between the arrested women and her late father. "The individuals arrested in the United States have no connection whatsoever to martyr Soleimani, and the claim made by the U.S. State Department is false," she said in a statement.

The arrests come amid the five-week mark of the U.S.-Israel war on Iran, which began on February 28. This is the second known instance this month that the Trump administration has revoked legal immigration status from individuals allegedly related to Iranian leaders. Earlier this month, Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani, daughter of the late Ali Larijani—former head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council—had her U.S. residency stripped after her husband, Seyed Kalantar Motamedi, was also barred from re-entering the country. Larijani was killed in an Israeli airstrike on March 17, part of the ongoing conflict.

Public pressure has played a significant role in these actions. Far-right influencer Laura Loomer, a Trump ally, claimed she reported Afshar to the State Department and praised Rubio's decision, calling it a "big scalp." An online petition launched two months ago on Change.org, which called for Afshar's deportation, gained over 4,000 signatures after the war began. Ardeshir-Larijani, who worked in oncology at Emory University in Georgia, faced protests at the university's cancer institute after Iran's deadly crackdown on antigovernment protesters in December and January. Demonstrators demanded her removal, highlighting the growing tensions between U.S. residents with ties to Iran and the political climate surrounding the war.

The case has sparked debate over whether family members should be punished for their relatives' actions. While the Trump administration frames these measures as a defense against foreign influence, critics argue that the policy risks infringing on free speech rights. Zeinab Soleimani's denial and the lack of concrete evidence linking Afshar to Soleimani's activities have fueled skepticism about the U.S. government's motives. Meanwhile, the broader strategy of targeting Iranian-linked individuals continues to unfold, with Rubio and other conservative figures advocating for stricter measures against perceived threats to national security.

A Change.org petition demanding the deportation of Dr. Azadeh Ardeshir-Larijani had amassed 157,017 signatures by Saturday, reflecting growing public pressure against her presence in the United States. The campaign highlighted her familial connections to Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, whose death on the first day of the Iran-Iraq War marked a pivotal moment in the nation's history. Petition organizers argued that while Ardeshir-Larijani resides in relative comfort abroad, her ties to Khamenei's inner circle—particularly her father, a high-ranking official—directly link her to policies that have allegedly contributed to the suffering of Iranian youth.

The petition's language was stark, accusing the U.S. of allowing individuals with bloodlines to oppressive regimes to thrive within its borders. "While she lives peacefully in the U.S., countless young Iranians are dying in Iran due to the policies and decisions made by Ali Khamenei and his inner circle, including her father," the document read. This rhetoric resonated with some lawmakers, notably Georgia's Congressman Earl "Buddy" Carter, a Republican who has long advocated for stricter measures against perceived threats to American interests.

Carter escalated the controversy by writing an open letter to Emory University, demanding the revocation of Ardeshir-Larijani's medical license. He framed her employment as a betrayal of public trust, arguing that "America's medical institutions must not serve as a safe harbor for individuals connected by blood and loyalty to regimes that openly call for the death of Americans." His letter emphasized patient safety, national security, and the integrity of U.S. medical systems, urging Emory to act decisively.

By January, Emory University had reportedly terminated Ardeshir-Larijani's employment, according to the school's student newspaper, *The Emory Wheel*. The decision came amid mounting scrutiny over her affiliations and the ethical implications of her continued presence on campus. While no official statement from the university was released, the move suggested a willingness to address concerns raised by both the public and political figures.

The case has sparked broader debates about the balance between personal freedoms and national security, as well as the role of universities in vetting individuals with controversial ties. For now, the focus remains on the intersection of policy, ethics, and the complex web of international relationships that continue to shape domestic decisions.