Detained Residents Challenge U.S. Gov't Over Disputed Soleimani Kinship

MIAMI, FL – April 28, 2026 – A legal battle is brewing over the fundamental rights of lawful permanent residents in the United States, as a mother and daughter detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are now challenging the very foundation of the government's case against them. Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter, Sarinasadat “Sarina” Hosseiny, both lawful permanent residents, were taken into custody in early April after their green cards were revoked on the orders of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who alleged they are relatives of the late Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and a threat to national security.

Their legal representatives at Faragalla Law, a Miami-based immigration firm, have now stepped forward, demanding due process and signaling a fierce court fight. “This case is not about politics, popularity, or foreign policy disagreements, it is about whether the government can detain and deport lawful permanent residents without due process based solely on unproven and publicly disputed claims,” stated Sam Faragalla, the firm's Managing Attorney, in a press release.

The Government's Case: A Matter of National Security

The government's actions stem from a series of explosive allegations leveled by Secretary Rubio. He publicly asserted that Hamideh Soleimani Afshar is the niece of Qassem Soleimani, the former commander of Iran's Quds Force who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in 2020. This would make her daughter, Sarina, his grandniece.

According to government statements, the revocation of their immigration status was a matter of national security. Secretary Rubio accused Afshar of using social media to promote Iranian regime propaganda, celebrate attacks on American soldiers, and praise the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a U.S.-designated terrorist organization. “The Trump Administration will not allow our country to become a home for foreign nationals who support anti-American terrorist regimes,” Rubio declared, framing the detention as a necessary step to protect the nation.

Further details from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) suggest the government is also building a case of immigration fraud. Records show Afshar, who entered the U.S. in 2015, was granted asylum in 2019 before receiving her green card in 2021. However, a naturalization application she filed in July 2025 reportedly disclosed four trips back to Iran, leading officials to question the legitimacy of her original asylum claim, which presumably was based on a fear of returning to that very country. The initial report that triggered the government's investigation appears to have originated from far-right activist Laura Loomer, who claimed to have “exposed” the women and reported them to federal authorities.

A Vehement Denial and Mounting Counter-Evidence

While the government's accusations are severe, they are being met with equally forceful denials and a growing body of contradictory evidence. Both Ms. Afshar and Ms. Hosseiny have vehemently denied any family connection to General Soleimani. Their lawyers state this central claim, which appears to be the primary justification for the government's actions, is entirely false.

This denial is not occurring in a vacuum. Independent reporting has begun to cast serious doubt on the government's intelligence. A report published by Drop Site News on April 22, 2026, cited detailed reviews of Iranian birth records and official identification documents, concluding there was no discoverable connection between the two women and the late general’s family tree.

Perhaps most compellingly, the denial comes from the Soleimani family itself. General Soleimani’s own daughters have publicly refuted the U.S. government's claims. Zeinab Soleimani called the assertion “a lie,” stating the arrested individuals had “no connection whatsoever to the family.” Her sister, Narjes Soleimani, a member of Tehran's Islamic City Council, was equally clear, stating that “no member of the family nor any relative of Martyr Soleimani has resided in the United States.” The U.S. State Department has not yet responded to requests for comment on these direct refutations from the family they claim the detainees are part of.

Adding another layer of complexity, sources close to the women suggest Afshar has a history as a dissident who was involved in anti-Islamic Republic protests and was even briefly imprisoned for her activism before fleeing to the U.S. for her safety.

Due Process in the Crosshairs

The case has quickly become a flashpoint for the debate on the balance between national security and the constitutional rights afforded to immigrants. While the government has broad authority to revoke immigration status, particularly under provisions like the Immigration and Nationality Act which allow for deportation on foreign policy grounds, that power is not absolute. Lawful permanent residents are entitled to due process, a right their legal team insists is being ignored.

This includes the right to a hearing before an immigration judge, where the government must present “clear and convincing” evidence to justify deportation. It is a high legal bar, and Faragalla Law argues that the government’s case, based on disputed claims and social media posts, falls far short.

“Due process does not exist only for popular people,” Faragalla stated. “It exists precisely for moments like this, when the accusations are serious, the politics are heated, and the dispute deals with the highest level of government in our country.” This sentiment underscores the principle that even in cases involving serious national security allegations, the legal process must be honored to prevent executive overreach.

The Human Cost of a Geopolitical Clash

Beyond the legal and political wrangling, the case highlights the profound human impact of geopolitical conflict. For Hamideh Soleimani Afshar, who is currently being held at an ICE detention facility in Pearsall, Texas, and her daughter Sarina, the American dream has devolved into a nightmare. Just last year, Afshar was on the path to citizenship. Today, she is facing deportation, her life in America erased by an allegation she claims is a case of mistaken identity or politically motivated targeting.

Secretary Rubio’s characterization of the women enjoying a “lavish lifestyle” in Los Angeles stands in stark contrast to their narrative as dissidents who fled an oppressive regime. Now, they find themselves ensnared by the government of the country where they sought refuge, accused of supporting the very regime they claim to have escaped.

As the legal machinery begins to turn, the case of Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and Sarinasadat Hosseiny will serve as a critical test of the American justice system’s resilience against the pressures of political rhetoric and international tensions. Their legal team is preparing for that fight, with Faragalla concluding, “We intend to prove our client’s innocence when our opportunity to do so in court is scheduled.”