A vicious attack on a pro-Israel gathering in Boulder, Colorado, has exposed the dangers of lax immigration enforcement under the Biden administration.
Mohamed Sabry Soliman, a 45-year-old Egyptian national who overstayed his visa, allegedly targeted a peaceful weekly event supporting hostages held by Hamas, injuring six elderly victims with a makeshift flamethrower and Molotov cocktails, as Breitbart reports.
Soliman entered the U.S. legally on Aug. 27, 2022, at Los Angeles International Airport on a B1/B2 nonimmigrant visa, and he was authorized to stay until Feb. 26, 2023. He ignored that deadline, remaining illegally in the country. Yet, the Biden administration’s USCIS granted him work authorization on March 29, 2023, which was valid until March 28, 2025, raising questions about vetting processes.
Witnesses reported Soliman shouting “Free Palestine” and “end Zionists” as he unleashed his attack. Such rhetoric, often cloaked in activist jargon, reveals a disturbing hatred that progressive policies too often excuse. Videos circulating on social media allegedly captured these inflammatory statements, leaving little doubt about his motives.
The attack occurred during a regularly scheduled pro-Israel walk, a peaceful demonstration drawing attention to hostages held by Hamas for 604 days. Six victims, aged 67 to 88, suffered burns and were rushed to local hospitals. The elderly shouldn’t fear for their lives while exercising free speech, yet here we are.
Witness Rick Holter described a shirtless man wielding squirt bottles and yelling as bystanders doused a victim on the ground. “We watched as the police arrived a couple of minutes later, and this guy, the shirtless guy, went down on the ground and was handcuffed,” Holter said. Quick police action likely prevented worse carnage.
Another witness saw a woman “burning on the ground” and two others with leg burns, underscoring the attack’s brutality. The FBI, led by Special Agent Mark Michalek, is investigating this as an act of terrorism. “This is a targeted act of violence,” Michalek said, confirming the obvious: this was no random outburst.
“I’m able to confirm there are six victims, ages 67-88, all of them have been transported to local hospitals,” Michalek added. The targeting of a religious protest on the eve of Shavuot, a Jewish holiday, reeks of calculated antisemitism. Yet, some will still call this “complex” to avoid hard truths.
Michalek noted, “Sadly, attacks like this are becoming too common across the country.” He’s right, but the refusal to confront the ideologies fueling these acts -- often amplified by unchecked immigration -- ensures they’ll continue. Soliman’s case is a glaring example of a system failing to prioritize American safety.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis condemned the attack, stating, “My thoughts go out to the people who have been injured by this heinous and targeted act on the Jewish community.” His words are fine, but where’s the outrage over how Soliman was allowed to remain in the U.S. illegally? Sympathy without action is hollow.
Polis added, “I’ve spoken with Boulder Mayor Brockett, and my administration is working closely with local and federal law enforcement.” Collaboration is great, but the real fix lies in closing the loopholes that let Soliman slip through. The Biden administration’s open-border policies bear much of the blame.
“As the Jewish community reels from the recent antisemitic murders in Washington, D.C., it is unfathomable that the community is facing another antisemitic attack here in Boulder,” Polis said. Unfathomable? Hardly, when visa overstays and lax enforcement are practically encouraged.
Polis rightly noted, “Boulder is strong. We have overcome tragedies together and will get through this together as a community.” But strength shouldn’t mean enduring preventable attacks. Citizens deserve protection, not platitudes about resilience.
“Several individuals were brutally attacked while peacefully drawing attention to the plight of hostages who have been held by Hamas terrorists in Gaza for 604 days,” Polis said. The victims’ cause was noble; their suffering, avoidable. A nation that can’t secure its borders invites such chaos.
Polis demanded that the suspect “be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” Agreed, but let’s also prosecute the policies that enabled Soliman’s presence. Until Washington prioritizes Americans over political correctness, expect more tragedies to tarnish our communities.
