President Donald Trump’s Department of Homeland Security is initiating a full-scale crackdown on visa overstays after a violent terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado. The attacker, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, an Egyptian national, had overstayed a tourist visa and was living in the U.S. illegally at the time of the assault.
On June 1, Soliman allegedly attacked a peaceful pro-Israel rally using Molotov cocktails and a homemade flamethrower. The attack injured several attendees, including an elderly Holocaust survivor. Authorities have charged Soliman with multiple counts of attempted murder and federal hate crimes. DHS confirmed that Soliman had been in the country illegally since February 2023, when his B-2 tourist visa expired.
Soliman initially entered the U.S. through Los Angeles in August 2022. Despite his expired visa, the Biden administration approved a work permit for him in March 2023. That permit expired this past March. Soliman had also attempted to enter the U.S. two decades ago but was denied a visa.
Following the Boulder attack, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced enhanced reviews of immigration records to identify and remove individuals who have overstayed their visas. DHS is coordinating with Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to prioritize enforcement against visa violators.
Noem stated that individuals entering the U.S. and promoting antisemitic violence or terrorism will be located, deported, and prosecuted. She emphasized that the U.S. will not serve as a haven for those who pose a threat to national security or public safety.
Soliman’s wife and five children have also been taken into custody and are currently in expedited removal proceedings. Investigators are reviewing whether any family members had prior knowledge of the planned attack.
This latest action underscores the administration’s policy of zero tolerance toward illegal immigration, especially involving those who pose a potential terrorist threat. The effort to tighten visa enforcement aligns with broader goals to secure the border and protect American communities.
