Marco Rubio targets Iran-linked trio: Hashemi, Tahmasebi lose green cards in US action

Washington: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has revoked the lawful permanent resident (green card) status of three Iranian nationals linked to figures associated with Iran’s revolutionary establishment, triggering their arrest and detention by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to the State Department.

The individuals—identified as Seyed Eissa Hashemi, Maryam Tahmasebi, and their son—are now in ICE custody and face deportation proceedings following the termination of their US residency status.

US immigration action: Iran-linked green card revocations

Officials said Hashemi is the son of Masoumeh Ebtekar, a controversial Iranian political figure tied to the 1979 US Embassy hostage crisis in Tehran, during which 52 Americans were held for 444 days.

Ebtekar previously served as a spokesperson for the student militants involved in the embassy takeover and later held senior positions in the Iranian government, including vice president between 2017 and 2021.

US authorities allege she played a propaganda role during the hostage crisis, including shaping media narratives around the detained Americans.

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Green cards issued under the Obama-era visa programme

According to State Department disclosures, the family entered the United States in 2014 on visas issued during the Obama administration. They were subsequently granted lawful permanent residency in 2016 under the Diversity Immigrant Visa Programme, which has since been suspended.

Officials confirmed that ICE has taken the trio into custody pending deportation hearings after Rubio’s order.

Wider US crackdown on Iran-linked individuals

The move is part of a broader enforcement action targeting individuals with alleged links to senior Iranian political and military figures.

In recent weeks, US authorities have also revoked the immigration status of relatives of slain Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander Qasem Soleimani, including Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter, both of whom were detained by ICE.

Separately, Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani, daughter of former Iranian official Ali Larijani, and her husband have also had their US residency status terminated and are barred from re-entry.

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US policy stance on Iran-linked immigration cases

The State Department said the actions reflect a policy of preventing individuals linked to “anti-American regimes” from holding US residency status.

Officials also confirmed coordination between the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security in executing the enforcement measures, describing the crackdown as part of a wider national security review of foreign nationals residing in the United States.

IANS