Federal authorities have detained the wife and five children of Mohamed Sabry Soliman, the Egyptian national who carried out a firebomb attack on pro-Israel demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado. The family members are now facing expedited deportation proceedings amid an investigation into their potential knowledge of or involvement in the attack.
According to The Daily Wire, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the arrests on Tuesday through a video posted to X, formerly known as Twitter. The family is reportedly being held at an immigration detention facility in southern Texas.
The move comes just one day after Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a stern warning that the Trump administration would take decisive action against "terrorists, their family members, and terrorist sympathizers" in the United States on visas. This rapid response demonstrates the administration's commitment to addressing potential security threats posed by foreign nationals.
Biden-era visa overstay revealed
Soliman entered the United States in August 2022 during the Biden administration on a non-immigrant visa that expired in February 2023. Despite the expiration of his legal status, he remained in the country after filing a claim with Citizenship and Immigration Services.
The Biden administration subsequently granted Soliman work authorization that remained valid until March 2025, just months before he carried out the violent attack that injured 12 pro-Israel demonstrators. This timeline raises serious questions about the previous administration's immigration enforcement policies.
Secretary Noem emphasized the gravity of the situation in her video statement, saying, "This terrorist will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We are investigating to what extent his family knew about this heinous attack, if they had knowledge of it, or if they provided support to it."
Swift deportation proceedings underway
Sources familiar with the case told the New York Post that following interrogation, officials plan to use expedited removal procedures to deport Soliman's family members. All of their visas have been revoked as part of the process.
The family's detention comes as part of what appears to be a broader crackdown on immigration violations potentially connected to terrorist activities. The speed with which authorities moved against Soliman's family members signals a significant shift in enforcement priorities under the current administration.
Secretary Rubio's statement on Monday foreshadowed the actions, making clear that the administration would actively pursue not just perpetrators of attacks but also those in their circles who might have provided support or failed to report suspicious activities.
Serious charges filed against attacker
Soliman faces extensive criminal charges for the Boulder attack, including 16 counts of attempted first-degree murder, along with additional charges for assault and possession of incendiary devices. If convicted on all counts with consecutive sentences applied, he could be sentenced to up to 624 years in state prison.
Federal authorities have added hate crime charges involving "actual or perceived race, religion, or national origin" to the case against Soliman. The severity of these charges reflects the nature of the attack, which targeted pro-Israel demonstrators specifically.
According to reports, Soliman used a "makeshift flamethrower" and Molotov cocktails during the attack while shouting "Free Palestine!" and "End Zionist." The attack left 12 people with serious injuries, though fortunately, no fatalities were reported.
Crackdown on immigration violations
The case has highlighted concerns about immigration enforcement that allowed Soliman to remain in the country despite his expired visa. Authorities are now taking aggressive steps to address similar situations involving potential security threats.
Soliman is currently being held on an exceptionally high $10 million bond, with his next court appearance scheduled for Thursday, June 5. The bond amount reflects both the severity of the charges and the potential flight risk, given his immigration status.
The Trump administration's swift response to the attack appears to signal a new approach to handling cases involving foreign nationals who commit violent acts on American soil. The detention and planned deportation of family members represents an expansion of enforcement beyond just the perpetrators themselves.
