• U.S. authorities arrested relatives of Qassem Soleimani after revoking their residency permits.
• The arrests were based on accusations of anti-American sentiments and support for Iran's regime.
• Marco Rubio stated that the U.S. will not harbor individuals supporting terrorist regimes.
• Their arrest is tied to a broader pattern of revoking immigration statuses of Iranian nationals linked to the government.
• Similar actions have also targeted other Iranian officials' relatives in recent weeks.

U.S. federal agents have arrested Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter, the niece and grand-niece of the late Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, after their lawful permanent resident status was revoked by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. They are currently in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in preparation for possible deportation, according to Reuters and Middle East Eye.

The State Department announced the revocation of the residency permits, citing Afshar's alleged support for the Iranian regime and her promotion of anti-American rhetoric, including celebrating attacks against U.S. forces. The classification of the Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization by Washington adds to the complexities of their legal entanglement, reports Anadolu Agency and BBC.

Rubio emphasized that these actions reflect a broader initiative by the Trump administration to expel foreign nationals who are seen as supporting regimes labeled as terrorists by the U.S. He clarified that the government would ensure such individuals do not exploit their residency in America, according to Channel News Asia and South China Morning Post.

The case has raised concerns regarding free speech rights, as the U.S. government has previously penalized other individuals linked to Iranian officials. Similar measures were taken against Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani, another Iranian national, indicating a systematic approach to address perceived threats from individuals with ties to Iran, as noted by Al Jazeera and CBS News.