US Deports Family of Notorious Iranian Propagandist Living the American Dream

The United States government has revoked the green cards of and detained multiple individuals with ties to the Iranian regime, including the family of a prominent Iranian propagandist and relatives of the late General Qasem Soleimani.

The State Department announced on Saturday, April 12, 2026, that it had revoked the green cards of Seyed Eissa Hashemi, his wife Maryam Tahmasebi, and their son. The family was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents after federal officials determined they had connections to Masoumeh Ebtekar, known as Screaming Mary.

Ebtekar is described as a propaganda mouthpiece for the Iranian regime and was involved with the group that stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979. Seyed Eissa Hashemi served as an adjunct associate professor at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, while his wife, Maryam Tahmasebi, is also a psychology professor.

The arrests of the Hashemi family occurred shortly after reports identified them living in an apartment complex called The Avalon in Agoura Hills.

Deportations of Soleimani Relatives

These actions follow the recent removal of other Iranian nationals with ties to the regime. On Saturday, April 4, 2026, the State Department announced the arrest of Hamideh Soleimani Afshar, 47, and her daughter Sarinasadat Hosseiny, 25.

Afshar is the niece and Hosseiny is the grandniece of the late General Qasem Soleimani, a former leader of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which is a designated terror organization in the United States.

According to a State Department letter, Afshar used her time in the U.S. To promote Iranian regime propaganda and celebrate attacks against American military facilities and soldiers in the Middle East. The letter further stated that she praised the new Iranian Supreme Leader and referred to the United States as the Great Satan.

Afshar first entered the U.S. In 2015 on a tourist visa, was granted asylum in 2019, and received a green card in 2021. The Department of Homeland Security noted that she made at least four trips back to Iran after obtaining her permanent residency. Hosseiny entered the U.S. In 2015 on a student visa and became a green card holder in 2023.

U.S. Government and Activist Response

Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed support for the measures on X, the social media platform, following the orders to revoke the visas and deport the individuals.

Journalist and activist Shayan Khosravanifarahani praised the actions taken by Secretary Rubio. Khosravanifarahani stated that these individuals had been using the United States to platform propaganda and lobby while living comfortably using funds stolen from the Iranian people.

Khosravanifarahani described the deported individuals as the tip of the iceberg regarding relatives of the Islamic Republic living in the U.S.

The crackdown on these residents occurs as the United States and Iran are engaged in negotiations in Pakistan, while a fragile ceasefire remains in place.