Colorado DA Blames Sanctuary Policies for Terror Attack in Deep-Blue State

Permissive immigration laws in Colorado have come under scrutiny after a violent antisemitic attack last weekend in Boulder. According to George Brauchler, the District Attorney for Colorado’s 23rd district, policies enacted by the Democratic-led state government have transformed Colorado into a "sanctuary-type" environment. He argues that such laws weaken enforcement and embolden individuals in the country illegally to act with impunity.

The recent incident involved Mohamed Sabry Soliman, an Egyptian national alleged to be living illegally in the United States. Soliman reportedly overstayed his visa, which expired in early 2023, and had applied for asylum while remaining in the country. Authorities allege he attacked pro-Israel activists at an outdoor mall, injuring eight adults—among them an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor. Law enforcement reported that the suspect used a makeshift flamethrower while shouting pro-Palestinian slogans during the assault. The victims were hospitalized with burn wounds following the attack.

The activists targeted were participating in a "Run for Their Lives" protest—a weekly event organized to advocate for the release of hostages held in Gaza. Many attendees are members of Colorado’s Jewish community, who now face heightened concerns about their safety and the prevalence of antisemitic violence in the region.

Brauchler emphasized that recent legislative changes and policy decisions in the state have limited coordination between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. "When you have taken the ongoing steps that our state government has taken over the past many years...you create an environment where someone feels like visa or no visa, I can stay here and do whatever I want," he stated. He warned that such conditions contribute directly to dangerous acts like the one witnessed in Boulder.

Authorities are also investigating Soliman’s possible radicalization and whether he acted alone or in concert with others. The severity and brazenness of the attack have prompted calls for a strong response at both the state and federal levels. Brauchler predicted vigorous federal involvement, especially if the Trump administration returns to office. "I can foresee President Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi saying, ‘We’re taking this case, we’re going to use every tool at our disposal...and we’re going to send a message,’" he remarked.

Community leaders and local officials have expressed shock and sadness at the unprecedented scale of the violence. "We've seen antisemitic stuff before out here, never in my recollection at this scale or this brazenly," Brauchler noted. He argued that it is essential for authorities to send a clear and decisive message to deter future attacks, not only in Colorado but across the nation. "If we don't make a big, loud, powerful statement sooner rather than later, these things are going to start to repeat themselves, not just here, but everywhere," he said.

Brauchler concluded with a somber reflection on the incident’s impact on the state’s identity and reputation. "This is another horrific blemish on a state that I have known as home my entire life," he lamented, expressing disappointment in the direction the state has taken over the past decade. "It's just another black eye for our state that we didn't need," he added, underscoring the urgent need for policy reevaluation and stronger protections for vulnerable communities.