Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested the niece of slain Iranian General Qasem Soleimani and her daughter in Los Angeles after discovering they fraudulently obtained asylum while making multiple trips back to Iran and living luxuriously off wealth extracted from the Iranian people.

Asylum Fraud Uncovered Through Travel Records

Hamideh Soleimani Afshar entered the United States on a tourist visa in June 2015, received asylum in 2019, and obtained her green card in 2021 under the Biden administration. The Department of Homeland Security revoked her status after she disclosed making at least four trips to Iran since receiving her green card. Her daughter followed a similar path, entering on a student visa in July 2015 before gaining asylum and permanent residency. Both were arrested by ICE on April 3, 2026, after investigators determined their asylum claims were fraudulent based on their repeated travel to the country they claimed to fear.

Lavish Lifestyles Funded by Iranian Regime

A new Fox Nation special titled Nepo Babies of Iran’s Regime exposes the stark contrast between how these privileged offspring of Iranian officials live abroad versus the suffering of ordinary Iranian citizens under the Islamic Republic. Iran expert Lisa Daftari revealed that Afshar and her daughter maintained luxurious lifestyles in Los Angeles while traveling freely between the United States and Iran. The documentary examines multiple cases of these individuals, known by the Persian term referring to children of high-ranking officials, who post about their lavish villas, drinking, and partying on social media for all to see.

Connection to Iranian Revolutionary Guard

General Qasem Soleimani led the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps before his death in an American drone strike during President Donald Trump’s first administration. Alex Vatanka of the Middle East Institute described the organization as designed to spread Iran’s revolution and Islamist message throughout Arab nations. One expert featured in the documentary called Iran a mafia state that systematically transfers wealth from its population to the ruling class, enabling their relatives to enjoy Western luxuries while the regime preaches piety and anti-Western ideology to the Iranian people struggling under oppressive conditions.