An Egyptian national named Mohamed Soliman is accused of firebombing pro-Israel demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado, after exceeding the duration of his B1/B2 visa. Soliman was granted work authorization until March 2025 even though he had overstayed his visa, which had expired in February 2023. ICE has taken custody of Soliman’s wife and five children, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced.
Terror Attack Exposes Visa Enforcement Failures
The June 1 terror attack in Boulder has revealed dangerous gaps in America’s immigration enforcement system. Mohamed Sabry Soliman, who entered the United States on August 27, 2022, with a B1/B2 non-immigrant visa, remained in the country well beyond his February 26, 2023 expiration date. More troublingly, despite this illegal overstay, federal authorities granted him work authorization valid until March 2025. This bureaucratic failure enabled Soliman to secure employment at both Vero Health and Uber, with both companies confirming he presented seemingly valid work authorization documents.
The attack itself was particularly vicious, with Soliman allegedly throwing a glass bottle that exploded into flames at a pro-Israel demonstration. The incident injured 15 people and has been officially classified as a targeted terror attack by FBI Director Kash Patel. Soliman now faces multiple serious charges, including attempted first-degree murder, use of explosives, and federal hate crime violations.
Here’s a video from the Boulder suspect where he declares that Jihad is more important to him than his family. Choices have consequences.
— Political Sock (@politicalsock) June 4, 2025
Family Under Investigation
In a significant development, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that federal authorities have taken Soliman’s wife and five children into custody. The family is now being investigated for potential knowledge or support of Soliman’s alleged terrorist activities. This move signals that authorities are exploring whether the attack was planned with family awareness or assistance, expanding the scope of the investigation beyond Soliman himself.
Soliman remains in custody on an unusually high $10 million bond. If convicted on all state and federal charges, he faces a potential maximum sentence of 624 years in prison. His next court appearance is scheduled for June 5, where prosecutors are expected to present preliminary evidence supporting the serious allegations against him.
BREAKING: The wife and all five children of Islamic terrorist Mohamad Soliman, who set Jews on fire in Colorado, have been arrested by ICE and Homeland Security.
Should they all be deported? pic.twitter.com/f8SyX6CRQi
— Dr. Maalouf (@realMaalouf) June 3, 2025
A Systemic National Security Threat
Former FBI special agent Jonathan Gilliam has raised urgent concerns about the broader implications of the Boulder attack, characterizing visa overstays as a significant and ongoing national security threat. According to Department of Homeland Security data, approximately 400,000 suspected visa overstays occurred in fiscal year 2023 alone. Each represents a potential security vulnerability, as the government has limited ability to track these individuals once they’ve entered the country.
“All of this has to be looked at, but just looking at what happened in Boulder, that could happen over and over again because the system of monitoring people who are here on a visa is almost nonexistent once they get in here,” Gilliam said. “And if they’re idealistic or if they get cultivated to believe in a radical way, there’s nothing stopping them.” – Jonathan Gilliam
Gilliam emphasized the need for comprehensive visa system reforms to prevent future attacks. He specifically recommended implementing better tracking systems and requiring more accountability from visa sponsors. The Boulder attack demonstrates how current monitoring systems are largely ineffective once foreign visitors enter the country, creating significant security vulnerabilities that can be exploited by those with malicious intent.