Egyptian Nationals Attack on Israeli Hostage Event Sparks Deportation Debate

The immigration status of Mohamed Sabry Soliman, the man accused of attacking an event for Israeli hostages in Boulder, Colorado, with a makeshift flamethrower and incendiary devices, has been seized upon by the Trump administration to bolster its deportation agenda. Soliman, a 45-year-old Egyptian national who overstayed his tourist visa, allegedly targeted the event to attack Zionists, shouting “Free Palestine” during the assault. The FBI has classified the incident as an act of terrorism, and Soliman has been charged with a federal hate crime.

This attack has been exploited by right-wing factions to advocate for increased deportations, merging anti-Israel sentiment with illegal immigration concerns. Contrasting with the conservative response to attacks on Palestinians and Muslims, figures like Stephen Miller and Donald Trump have condemned the incident, blaming it on Biden’s immigration policies. Trump called for secure borders and the deportation of “Illegal, Anti-American Radicals.”

The incident occurred shortly after the Trump administration labeled Colorado, including Boulder, as a “sanctuary” jurisdiction, though this designation was later removed following backlash. Right-wing commentators have used the attack to call for stricter immigration controls, including a potential revival of the Muslim travel ban.

Despite studies indicating that immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than US-born citizens, the National Institute of Justice has removed a webpage highlighting this fact, citing compliance reviews under Trump executive orders.