Boulder Terror Attack Sparks Calls to Fully Reverse Biden-Era Immigration Policies
Boulder terror attack underscores national security fears linked to Biden's immigration policies, with visa overstays and work permits in focus.
The recent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado, has intensified a national debate over U.S. immigration policy, as new details regarding the suspect’s immigration history raise tough questions for the Biden administration. Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, originally from Egypt, is accused of carrying out a violent attack on demonstrators supporting Israeli hostages, resulting in eight injuries. According to law enforcement and Department of Homeland Security officials, Soliman entered the United States through Los Angeles International Airport in August 2022 under a tourism visa, which expired in February 2023. Despite the expiration, Soliman remained in the country after filing an asylum claim in September 2022, and was granted a work permit valid from March 2023 to March 2025.
This sequence of events, critics argue, reflects ongoing vulnerabilities in the nation's immigration system. A key point of contention is that Soliman's work authorization was issued well after his tourist visa had already lapsed—a situation that, for some policymakers and commentators, illustrates a broader failure to enforce existing immigration laws and track visa overstays. The urgency of the issue has been heightened by the attack’s nature: Soliman allegedly targeted a peaceful rally, setting victims on fire while shouting “Free Palestine” and anti-Israel rhetoric. Among those injured was a Holocaust survivor, who had sought refuge in the United States decades ago, only to be victimized once again.
The political fallout has been swift. Senior officials and lawmakers have seized upon the incident to demand sweeping reforms. Stephen Miller, former White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security Advisor, declared online that the Biden administration’s approach to migration must be “fully reversed,” citing the Boulder attack as evidence of “suicidal migration.” Republican Senator Jim Banks called for immediate passage of legislation that would allocate billions toward mass deportations and constructing additional border barriers, reiterating that these steps have widespread public support but remain blocked in Congress.
Broader security concerns are not limited to the southern border. While Soliman entered the U.S. through an airport—not overland—security experts and even some non-partisan officials have warned that lapses at official ports of entry could allow dangerous individuals to exploit weaknesses in the system. Reports have highlighted the arrival of over 1.7 million migrants in recent years, with congressional investigators suggesting that a fraction of these arrivals could pose significant national security risks.
As investigations into the Boulder attack continue, the incident has become a flashpoint in the contentious national discussion over how best to balance humanitarian obligations, border security, and the nation’s ongoing battle against terrorism. Policymakers on both sides of the aisle are under increasing pressure to address perceived gaps in the immigration system before another tragedy occurs.
