Federal immigration authorities have taken the family of 45-year-old Egyptian national Mohamed Sabry Soliman into custody with plans to deport them as soon as possible. The decision follows Soliman’s arrest on Sunday after he allegedly hurled Molotov cocktails at a pro-Israel rally on Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall. In the wake of this violent attack, Homeland Security officials indicated that Soliman’s wife and five children—two teenagers and three younger children—are subject to “expedited removal,” meaning deportation could occur within 48 hours unless they successfully make a legal claim to remain in the United States.
Attack on Pro-Israel Rally Leaves Community Shaken
Last Sunday morning, dozens of Boulder residents gathered at Pearl Street Mall for “Run for Their Lives,” a weekly silent march to honor hostages taken by Hamas during the October 2023 Israel–Hamas conflict. Witnesses described a peaceful event when, just after 10:00 a.m., an assailant dashed into the crowd and threw two gasoline-filled bottles that immediately ignited. Twelve participants, ranging in age from their late 60s to early 80s, sustained burn and smoke-inhalation injuries. Several remain hospitalized in serious condition.
Following the explosions, witnesses reported hearing the assailant shout “Free Palestine” as the Molotov cocktails scattered. Emergency Medical Services rushed multiple patients to Boulder Community Health, where trauma teams treated victims suffering from second- and third-degree burns. Fire crews extinguished small fires on the street, and Boulder Police secured the scene within minutes. Local officials described the assault as an act of domestic terrorism fueled by Middle East tensions that have spilled over into American communities over the past year.
Suspect Identified as Overstayed Visa Holder
Investigators quickly identified the suspect as Mohamed Sabry Soliman, a 45-year-old Egyptian originally from Alexandria. Soliman had been living in Colorado Springs with his wife, 38, and their five children, ages 4 through 17. Federal records show that Soliman arrived in the United States on a B-2 tourist visa in August 2022. He filed for asylum in September 2022, but the application remained pending past his February 2023 visa expiration. Court documents indicate he failed to appear at an asylum hearing scheduled for March 2023.
Soliman was unarmed when arrested. According to an FBI affidavit, he admitted to investigators that he had stockpiled ingredients—gasoline, glass bottles, and cloth wicks—after researching makeshift incendiary devices on YouTube. He explained that he had considered firearms but could not legally purchase guns without U.S. citizenship. Soliman told authorities he chose a Molotov cocktail because its ingredients were readily available in Colorado. During questioning, he reportedly stated his motive was to “kill all Zionist people,” but that he had waited until his daughter’s high school graduation to avoid disrupting her milestone.
Charges and Legal Proceedings Against Soliman
On Monday afternoon, Boulder County District Attorney Michael Burns announced that Soliman faces multiple felony counts, including two charges of attempted first-degree murder, several counts of first-degree assault, and one count of using an explosive or incendiary device to commit a violent crime. Federal prosecutors will also pursue hate-crime enhancements, since Soliman admitted he targeted a pro-Israel gathering. Hate crimes carry higher penalties: under federal law, conviction can add up to 20 years in prison per count. Soliman’s next court appearance—an arraignment—was set for Tuesday morning in Boulder County Court, where he will formally enter a plea. If he pleads not guilty, judges are expected to set trial dates and review a possible motion to keep him in custody without bail.
ICE Detains Soliman’s Wife and Children
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed via social media late Monday that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents had apprehended Soliman’s wife and their five children. A senior ICE official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing investigation, explained that the family’s removal would be expedited because:
- Soliman’s wife and children entered the United States as “derivative beneficiaries” of his tourist visa, causing their legal status to lapse the moment Soliman’s visa expired in February 2023.
- Soliman’s violent and ideologically motivated act triggers a U.S. immigration statute that makes any noncitizen “inadmissible” and subject to “expedited removal” if they commit an act of violence that is determined to be a hate crime or terrorist act.
- No credible asylum or withholding-of-removal application has been filed on behalf of his wife or children. Under U.S. immigration law, any family member in ICE custody must indicate a fear of returning home to obtain a formal “credible fear” screening; otherwise, they can be deported within hours or days.
ICE sources say Soliman’s wife did not submit a credible fear claim before being placed in custody. As a result, ICE is preparing travel documents and coordinating with Egypt’s consular officials to arrange a deportation flight within 48 hours. Should any family member assert asylum, they face a brief hearing before an immigration judge—usually held within days—where they must prove a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, or political opinion. If they cannot, they will be ordered removed from the U.S. immediately.
Community and Civil-Rights Groups Raise Concerns
Local civil-rights organizations cautioned that detaining five minors—two of whom are U.S.-born teenagers—in federal immigration custody poses both legal and humanitarian concerns. A spokesperson for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Colorado, Nadia Hasan, issued a statement: “ICE’s expedited removal of an entire family, particularly children, who have lived in the United States for years, without a thorough adjudication of any claim to remain, violates due process and ignores the best interests of the minors. We will monitor this case to ensure that the family’s rights are protected under U.S. law.”
Boulder County District Attorney Burns said his office would cooperate with ICE but emphasized that criminal charges against Soliman are a separate matter. “Our priority is to secure justice for the victims of this hate-fueled attack. Meanwhile, ICE is free to enforce federal immigration law as it sees fit,” Burns stated. Nevertheless, local child-welfare advocates have asked the Boulder Department of Human Services to ensure that Soliman’s minors are not subjected to prolonged detention in adult facilities. Federal law generally prohibits minors from being held in adult jails, so ICE must transfer the children to a Department of Health and Human Services–sponsored facility or place them with a vetted sponsor—often a relative—if they cannot be released on bond.
Rising Tensions Mirror National Trends
Sunday’s incident in Boulder is one in a series of ideologically driven acts of violence that have occurred since last October’s Hamas-led attack on Israel. Across the United States, protests and counterprotests have proliferated, and authorities say they are tracking a radicalized fringe on both sides of the Middle East conflict. A Department of Homeland Security bulletin issued last month warned of a “heightened threat environment for ideologically motivated violent extremists,” citing increased “anti-Semitic or anti-Israel” incidents on one side and “anti-Muslim or anti-Palestinian” incidents on the other.
Soliman’s attack follows earlier episodes in 2024—most notably at the Harvard-Yale football game in November—where pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli groups clashed. Federal law enforcement officials, including the FBI and DHS, have been staking out public gatherings to prevent potential violence tied to the Israel–Hamas war. Boulder Mayor Aaron Kahn condemned the Sunday bombing as “an act of extremism which has no place in our community or our nation,” and pledged to work with state and federal partners to safeguard future events, including upcoming political rallies and community vigils.
Questions Surrounding Soliman’s Motive and Contacts
In addition to Soliman’s own statements, investigators are exploring whether he had any contact with foreign extremist groups. An FBI affidavit notes that Soliman’s cellphone data shows internet searches on “Palestinian liberation” and “how to make a Molotov cocktail” in early May. However, officials say there is no evidence yet linking him to known extremist cells. A senior FBI counterterrorism agent in Denver, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “At this point, our investigation indicates Soliman acted alone. We have no indication of outside direction. But we continue to follow leads, including possible online networks.”
Attorney General Merrick Garland praised federal, state, and local cooperation. “Violent acts of hate, particularly those that target individuals based on national origin, cannot be tolerated,” he said in a statement. “We will bring to justice not only the individual responsible but ensure that family members who participated or conspired in such an attack are held accountable under immigration laws.” Legal experts caution, however, that using immigration detention for family members of accused criminals is a controversial practice, with some calling it “guilt by association.” In recent years, courts have issued rulings ensuring that immigrant minors have a right to due process, and child-advocacy groups have sued ICE to limit the detention of families.
Soliman’s Court Proceedings and Potential Sentences
Soliman faces federal hate-crime charges carrying up to 20 years in prison per count, plus significant fines. If convicted of attempted first-degree murder and use of explosive devices, he could face life in prison under federal sentencing guidelines. At Tuesday’s arraignment in Boulder County Court, he is expected to plead not guilty. Defense attorneys have not yet entered a formal appearance. They may request bond or pretrial release; however, state courts generally prohibit release for individuals charged with violent felonies. Once state proceedings conclude—whether by plea, trial, or dismissal—federal prosecutors will likely assume primary authority over the case.
Upon conviction in federal court, Soliman’s wife and children would likely remain subject to deportation. Under an immigration statute (8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(3)(A)(ii)), participation in or facilitation of terrorist attacks renders any noncitizen inadmissible and removable. Family members who assisted or conspired are also removable under 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(3)(B)(i) for providing material support to terrorists. However, if ICE fails to show that family members knew of or participated in the attack, they might only face removal due to Soliman’s status. In that case, they could remain in ICE custody until they either secure bond or comply with the removal order.
Community Impact and Healing Efforts
Boulder’s tight-knit community has rallied around victims and their families. A prayer vigil was held Monday evening near the attack site, attended by hundreds who left flowers, candles, and heartfelt messages. Several faith leaders—Jewish, Christian, and Muslim—spoke about the urgent need for unity in the face of hate. Rabbi Miriam Stern of Boulder’s Congregation Bonai Shalom remarked, “We mourn the violence and pray for the victims. We also must stand against bigotry in any form, whether it targets Jews, Muslims, or anyone. Our shared humanity demands peace.” Mayor Kahn announced that the city would host a community forum next week to address rising tensions and explore ways to ensure public safety at future gatherings. He invited Boulder’s diverse religious and civic groups to participate. The forum will include panels on hate-crime prevention, emergency response planning, and healing for survivors of violence.
Immigration Policy Debate Rekindled
Soliman’s case has already reignited national debates over immigration enforcement and family detention. Advocacy groups argue that mass detention of children and their parents—even those unlawfully present—is an inhumane policy that can traumatize minors. Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, issued a press statement urging ICE to release Soliman’s family on bond and provide them with legal counsel. “Detaining an entire family because of alleged wrongdoing by one member is both unnecessary and cruel. Instead, we should focus federal resources on prosecuting the individual directly responsible for the violence,” Jayapal said.
By contrast, some hardline members of Congress insist that detaining the entire family is a necessary deterrent. Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) tweeted: “Anyone who commits terror on U.S. soil forfeits any right to remain—along with their family members. This administration must stand firm and deport them immediately.” Cotton’s remarks sparked heated discussion on social media, where immigrant-rights organizations fired back, highlighting America’s longstanding tradition of affording due process to all residents, citizens or not.
Legal experts note that Soliman’s attack—motivated by foreign-policy grievances—falls under both terrorism and hate-crime statutes, making it relatively straightforward for federal attorneys to secure convictions and removal orders. Still, the expedited removal of minors has become a flashpoint among immigration attorneys. In 2014, a federal court ruled that unaccompanied minors cannot be held in adult detention facilities; however, that decision did not directly address family units. A 2018 Supreme Court ruling affirmed that children may not be detained indefinitely, but allowed families to be held in “family residential centers” for limited periods. A spokesperson for the National Immigration Law Center said they are prepared to file suit if Soliman’s minor children are detained beyond 20 days without a credible fear interview.
Looking Ahead: Balancing Security and Compassion
As Soliman’s criminal and immigration cases move forward in tandem, Boulder residents face a moment of reckoning—grappling with grief for the injured, relief that no deaths occurred, and anxiety about rising politically motivated violence. At the same time, human-rights advocates warn against allowing fear to override America’s commitment to due process. A Denver-based immigrant-rights attorney, Maria Alvarez, commented, “We must hold violent individuals accountable. But in doing so, we cannot trample the rights of innocent children who had no part in these crimes. If these minors face expedited removal without proper hearings, we will challenge it in court.”
By week’s end, Soliman’s wife and children may be on a plane bound for Cairo. Federal agents say they will monitor their removal to ensure proper handoff to Egyptian authorities. Meanwhile, Soliman awaits an arraignment that could usher him quickly toward a federal hate-crime trial. Both processes—a criminal prosecution and an immigration deportation—exemplify how federal agencies intersect: the Justice Department holds Soliman to account for violence, while Homeland Security moves to expel family members who lack legal status. In Boulder, conversations have already begun over how to heal a community divided by politics and pain. Nonprofit organizations like the Jewish Community Center of Boulder and the Muslim Student Association at the University of Colorado are jointly hosting interfaith events in the coming weeks. “We have to speak out against violence,” said Imam Yusuf Rahim. “And we have to do it in the name of compassion, even when a family faces removal. We are all part of one human family.”
As prosecutors prepare to face Soliman in court and ICE readies deportation flights, Colorado and the nation confront tough questions: How do we ensure public safety without sacrificing due process? At what point does immigration enforcement of family members become punishment by association? And, leaning forward: How can communities prevent extremist violence driven by overseas conflicts from finding expression on American streets? The answers will not be easy—and Boulder’s response in the coming days may offer clues for communities nationwide. If there is a silver lining amid sorrow and anger, it lies in a reaffirmation that, even in acts of hate, ideals of justice and compassion can guide us toward healing.
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