Boulder terrorist Mohamed Soliman received Biden work permit despite overstaying visa before firebombing elderly Jews
A shocking immigration failure allowed an Egyptian national to remain in America illegally and receive government work authorization—just months before he would terrorize elderly Jewish Americans with homemade firebombs.
The case of Mohamed Sabry Soliman exposes dangerous gaps in how the Biden administration handles visa overstays and immigration enforcement.
The Attack That Shook Boulder
Sunday afternoon at Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall should have been peaceful. Instead, it became the scene of what the FBI has classified as a “targeted terror attack.”
Eight people were set on fire during a pro-Israel rally calling for the return of hostages held by Hamas. The victims ranged from 52 to 88 years old—elderly Americans simply advocating for human rights.
Videos captured a shirtless man standing menacingly with additional incendiary devices after the initial attack. Witnesses heard him yell “Free Palestine” as flames engulfed his victims.
A Textbook Lone Wolf Profile
Retired FBI supervisory special agent Jason Pack immediately recognized the warning signs. The attack bore all the hallmarks of lone-wolf terrorism that has become increasingly common.
“From a behavioral and psychological profiling perspective, this suggests impulsive extremism or a desire for martyrdom rather than escape or survival,” Pack told Fox News Digital.
The crude weaponry, erratic behavior, and politically charged language painted a clear picture. Soliman had researched bomb-making techniques on YouTube and constructed Molotov cocktails at home.
During his police interview, Soliman showed no remorse. He told investigators he wanted to “kill all Zionist people” and that “he would do it again.”
The Immigration Timeline That Failed
What makes this attack particularly troubling is how easily it could have been prevented through proper immigration enforcement.
Soliman first entered the United States in August 2022 on a non-immigrant visa. That legal status expired in February 2023, making him an illegal immigrant subject to deportation.
Instead of being removed from the country, something remarkable happened. The Biden administration’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services granted Soliman a work permit in March 2023.
This work authorization came just one month after his visa had already expired, essentially rewarding his illegal presence with employment benefits.
A Pattern of Administrative Failures
The work permit was valid through March 2025, but Soliman overstayed even that extended authorization. By the time of Sunday’s attack, he had been living illegally in America for over a year.
Law enforcement found disturbing evidence at Soliman’s Colorado Springs home. He had left behind an iPhone and journal containing messages to his family—suggesting he expected the attack to be his final act.
The 45-year-old Egyptian national now faces multiple serious charges including attempted first-degree murder, assault, and use of explosives during a felony.
The Critical Immigration Policy Question
Here’s the key revelation that immigration experts are demanding answers about: How did an Egyptian national who had already overstayed his visa receive a work permit from the Biden administration?
The timeline shows a clear administrative failure. Soliman’s original visa expired in February 2023, yet USCIS granted him work authorization just one month later in March 2023.
This suggests either a complete breakdown in tracking visa overstays or a deliberate policy of rewarding illegal presence with work benefits.
Eight elderly Americans suffered burns because immigration authorities failed to remove someone who had no legal right to remain in the country. One victim remains in critical condition, fighting for their life because of this preventable administrative failure.