A 45-year-old undocumented Egyptian immigrant who planned for a year to firebomb pro-Israel demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado, now faces over 350 years in prison while his entire family gets swept into expedited deportation proceedings—raising urgent questions about our broken immigration system’s failure to prevent violent extremism on American soil.
Story Snapshot
- Mohamed Soliman hurled Molotov cocktails at pro-Israel demonstrators, injuring 12 people including a Holocaust survivor
- Suspect admitted planning the attack for a year and yelled “Free Palestine” while attempting to kill “all Zionists”
- Six family members including spouse and children now face expedited deportation without judicial review
- Soliman’s visa expired in 2023 but he remained in the U.S. with a pending asylum application
Year-Long Plot Ends in Terror Attack on American Citizens
Mohamed Soliman threw multiple Molotov cocktails at peaceful demonstrators advocating for Israeli hostage releases in Boulder, Colorado. According to an affidavit, Soliman confessed to authorities that he had been planning the attack for a full year and wanted to kill all Zionists. The violent assault injured twelve Americans, including a Holocaust survivor, with at least two victims requiring hospitalization. Soliman faces 16 counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of use of an incendiary device, and 16 counts of attempted use of an incendiary device at the state level, plus a federal hate crime charge.
Immigration System Failures Allow Suspected Terrorist to Remain
Soliman entered the United States on a non-immigrant visa that expired in February 2023. Despite his expired status, he remained in the country with a pending asylum application filed in September 2022. This case exemplifies the dangerous gaps in our immigration enforcement that the previous administration allowed to fester. While law-abiding Americans waited years for legal immigration processing, Soliman exploited asylum loopholes to stay in the country and plan a politically motivated attack. The $10 million bond set for Soliman reflects the severity of his crimes and flight risk, yet the system permitted him to overstay for years before this violence occurred.
DHS Launches Investigation Into Family’s Potential Involvement
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced that six family members, including Soliman’s spouse and children, were taken into ICE custody under expedited removal procedures. Secretary Noem stated investigators are examining whether family members had knowledge of or provided support for the attack. The expedited removal process allows immigration officials to deport noncitizens without requiring them to appear before a judge. FBI Denver Special Agent Mark Michalek indicated that while investigators currently believe Soliman acted alone, they would “aggressively move to hold accountable” anyone with knowledge of or support for the attack to the fullest extent of the law.
Hate Crime Prosecution Reflects Attack’s Extremist Motivation
Federal prosecutors charged Soliman with hate crimes based on his explicit targeting of pro-Israel demonstrators and his stated intent to kill Zionists. During the attack, Soliman shouted “Free Palestine” while hurling incendiary devices at the crowd. This politically motivated violence demonstrates how radical ideologies can fester among individuals who exploit our immigration system’s weaknesses. The federal hate crime charge, combined with state charges carrying a possible maximum sentence exceeding 350 years in prison, ensures Soliman faces consequences proportionate to his premeditated attempt at mass murder. This aggressive prosecution sends a clear message that violent extremism will not be tolerated on American soil.
Trump Administration’s Immigration Enforcement Delivers Results
The swift detention of Soliman’s family members under expedited removal procedures reflects the Trump administration’s commitment to aggressive immigration enforcement when national security is at stake. Unlike the Biden-era approach of catch-and-release that allowed millions of illegal immigrants to disappear into American communities, current DHS leadership prioritizes public safety and thorough investigations. While the FBI described the family as “cooperative” during the search warrant execution, the decision to pursue expedited removal demonstrates that immigration violations will face consequences, particularly when connected to violent criminal acts. This case underscores why strong borders and robust enforcement mechanisms protect American citizens from those who would exploit our generosity to commit acts of terror.
Sources:
Colorado Attack Suspect’s Family Taken Into ICE Custody – TIME Magazine
