On June 1, 2025, an attack with Molotov cocktails and a homemade flamethrower during a pro-Israel demonstration in Boulder, Colorado, left at least 15 people injured and a dog dead. The alleged assailant, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, an Egyptian national, entered the United States in August 2022 on a tourist visa that expired in February 2023.
Since then, he had been residing illegally in the country with a pending asylum application.
DHS actions following the attack
In response to the incident, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem ordered immigration agencies – ICE, CBP and USCIS –to intensify record checks.
This is to identify aliens who have overstayed their legal period of stay in the United States.
The measure seeks to prevent individuals with expired visas from remaining in the country without authorization.
Details of the attack
Soliman, who had planned the attack for a year, used an improvised flamethrower and Molotov cocktails to assault the protesters, while shouting “Free Palestine!”.
The attack occurred during a peaceful demonstration in support of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
Authorities found 16 additional Molotov cocktails at the site.
La medida busca prevenir que individuos con visas vencidas permanezcan en el país sin autorización
Among the injured are people between the ages of 25 and 88, including a Holocaust survivor.
Soliman faces federal hate crime charges and multiple state charges for attempted murder in the United States.
His bail was set at $10 million.
Implications for immigrants
Buzzy
Soliman’s wife and five children were detained by U.S. immigration authorities and face expedited deportation proceedings.
DHS has not specified whether the family had prior knowledge of the attack or whether they had pending asylum claims.
This incident has generated a national debate on security and immigration policies, especially in relation to immigrants who remain in the country with expired visas.
The new DHS measures reflect a tougher approach to immigration enforcement to prevent future incidents of this nature.
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