In the wake of a violent hate crime targeting pro-Israel demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado, questions are mounting over the state’s recently enacted law that restricts cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.
Critics, including Republican lawmakers and Trump administration officials, are pointing to the legislation as a key failure that allowed a dangerous individual to remain under the radar.
The attacker, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, a 45-year-old Egyptian national, was reportedly in the United States illegally at the time of the attack on Sunday. Authorities say Soliman entered the country legally on a visa but remained after it expired.
He later obtained a work permit during the Biden administration, despite no longer having legal immigration status. According to federal court documents, Soliman admitted to carrying out the Molotov cocktail attack and stated he wished to kill all “zionists.”
The assault comes just weeks after Colorado Democrats passed a bill severely limiting the ability of local law enforcement to assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Signed into law by Democrat Governor Jared Polis in late May, the statute prohibits state and local agencies from honoring ICE detainer requests.
These requests are a key tool used by the federal agency to detain and deport individuals who are in the country illegally after they’ve been arrested for other offenses.
Supporters of the legislation claimed it was necessary to counter immigration enforcement policies implemented during the Trump administration.
However, the timing of the bill, signed shortly before the Boulder attack, has fueled criticism that the law hamstrings cooperation among agencies and compromises public safety.
The new law also blocks local governments from sharing critical information with federal immigration officials, including identifying details and immigration status. This information is often used by ICE to track down illegal immigrants, particularly those involved in criminal activity.
The law also places stiff penalties on any government entities that violate the new restrictions. Agencies that share information with ICE can be fined up to $50,000, with the revenue going to a state-managed deportation defense initiative known as the Immigration Legal Defense Fund.
State Rep. Gabe Evans (R-Colo.) made a direct connection between these sanctuary-style policies and the Boulder attack.
During an interview on NewsNation’s “The Hill,” Evans responded to a video clip of Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn, who said that local authorities had no prior contact with the suspect and was unaware if he had a criminal history in the United States.
When asked for his reaction, Evans said, “Yeah. And here’s why I’m frustrated, because one of the major points of the 9/11 Commission, which says, ‘How do we prevent major terrorist attacks from happening in the United States again?’ says that federal, state and local law enforcement have to be able to work together and share information.”
“Unfortunately, Colorado is a sanctuary state,” he continued. “We know this guy overstayed two visas. We know this guy is illegally present in the United States, and that makes him off limits for any information sharing between state and local law enforcement with their federal authorities.”
Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty revealed that Soliman had been preparing for the attack for over a year.
His original intent was to use a firearm. He even attended a concealed carry training course to familiarize himself with firearms.
However, his attempt to purchase a gun was blocked after background checks flagged his expired visa status.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller described the situation as a byproduct of reckless border and immigration policies.
“A terror attack was committed in Boulder, Colorado by an illegal alien. He was granted a tourist visa by the Biden Administration and then he illegally overstayed that visa. In response, the Biden Administration gave him a work permit,” Miller said. “Suicidal migration must be fully reversed.”
President Donald Trump also reacted to the incident, directly blaming his predecessor’s immigration policies.
“Yesterday’s horrific attack in Boulder, Colorado, WILL NOT BE TOLERATED in the United States of America. He came in through Biden’s ridiculous Open Border Policy, which has hurt our Country so badly. He must go out under ‘TRUMP’ Policy,” Trump said on Truth Social.
“Acts of Terrorism will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the Law,” he added. “This is yet another example of why we must keep our Borders SECURE, and deport Illegal, Anti-American Radicals from our Homeland. My heart goes out to the victims of this terrible tragedy, and the Great People of Boulder, Colorado!”
Athens GA, home of Laken Riley, is still running a sanctuary city while denying that they are doing so.
As I understand this ‘law’ a local, county or state LEO that does their duty and cooperates with the feds to enforce existing immigration law(s) has become a ‘law’ breaker. I guess the next thing these screwballs will come up with is that those LEOs can’t arrest bank robbers or counterfeiters. SMDH – commierado has truly turned into bizarro world. Have they started a go fund me account to provide the murderer wannabe with legal aid?