Rep. Tim Burchett, a Republican from Tennessee, criticized members of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani’s family during a Monday interview, questioning how they were able to live in the United States and suggesting broader failures in immigration and oversight policies.

Burchett claimed that Soleimani’s relatives had been living comfortably in the U.S., raising concerns about how individuals connected to a figure widely viewed by U.S. officials as a terrorist leader were able to enter and remain in the country. He also aimed prior administrations, arguing that policies under Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden contributed to weakened border enforcement and oversight.

During the interview, Burchett pointed to what he described as longstanding issues with federal immigration controls and alleged that taxpayer funds may have indirectly supported individuals or organizations facilitating such arrangements through non-governmental organizations or international channels.

The congressman also referenced broader national security concerns, including reports that individuals from hostile regions may have entered the United States in recent years, though specific figures and claims remain subject to debate and verification.

Soleimani, the former commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force, was killed in a U.S. airstrike ordered by President Donald Trump in January 2020. At the time, the Trump administration described him as responsible for orchestrating attacks against American personnel and interests in the Middle East.

Following the strike, Trump said Soleimani had been planning imminent attacks and emphasized that the United States would take decisive action against individuals who threaten American lives.

Burchett’s comments reflect ongoing divisions in Washington over immigration policy, national security, and how the United States should handle individuals with connections to foreign adversaries.