The family of an Egyptian national accused with attempted murder during an antisemitic Molotov cocktail attack in Boulder, Colorado, has been brought into ICE custody, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Mohamed Soliman, the suspected attacker, is married with five children, all of whom are now facing expedited deportation from the United States, according to a White House post on X. The six family members are currently being held in Florence, Colorado.
As of late Tuesday, a law enforcement source said immigration officials intended to transport the imprisoned family members to an immigration detention center in Texas while they awaited final expulsion proceedings. The source does not specify which country the family could be deported to.
“THEY COULD BE DEPORTED AS EARLY AS TONIGHT,” the White House said.
Following the attack, the State Department withdrew the visas of Soliman’s wife and children, according to a DHS official.
DHS did not give additional information about the expedited removal process.
While the administration could move quickly to deport his family, in general, if someone enters on a visa, they cannot be placed in fast-track deportation proceedings, also known as expedited removal, which allows immigration officials to remove an individual without a hearing before an immigration judge.
“We’re also looking into how much his family knew about this horrific attack, whether they had any knowledge of it or provided support for it,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in a Tuesday social media post.
The FBI named Soliman as the sole suspect in the attack, in which he is accused of setting individuals on fire with an improvised flamethrower and Molotov cocktails at a Boulder gathering in support of Gaza hostages.
Soliman informed officers after his arrest that “no one” knew about his assault plans and that “he never talked to his wife or family about it,” according to the arrest affidavit filed Sunday.
“In light of yesterday’s horrific attack, all terrorists, their family members, and terrorist sympathizers here on a visa should know that under the Trump administration, we will find you, revoke your visa, and deport you,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on social media Monday.
Soliman, who is now facing federal hate crimes and various state criminal counts, appeared in state court on Monday and is scheduled to appear in federal court on Friday. CNN has contacted his attorney for comment. It is unclear whether the family has retained legal counsel.
In an interview with federal and local officials following the incident, Soliman stated that he “wanted to kill all Zionist people” and had planned the attack for a year.
Brian Horwitz, 37, was in a neighboring café when the attack began. He heard the screams and dashed toward the culprit.
“It was easily the most horrific thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” Horwitz told me. “There’s someone furious enough to go and attack these elderly individuals who have done nothing to instigate the situation other than walk in silence and peacefully congregate in a courtyard. “It is unbelievable.”