Federal Judge Halts Deportation of Suspect’s Family

A federal judge in Colorado has intervened to prevent the deportation of the family connected to a recent attack in Boulder.

This ruling comes as the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) prepares to deport Mohamed Soliman’s wife and their five children.

Homeland Security Secretary Christie Noem mentioned on Tuesday that the family will remain in detention as part of the ongoing investigation and will likely face inquiries about their potential knowledge of the attack.

A statement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) indicated that ICE is currently processing them for removal.

However, Judge Gordon P. Gallagher has ruled that Soliman’s wife and children cannot be removed from the U.S. and has scheduled a hearing for June 13, where all parties are expected to appear.

The judge expressed concerns that deporting the family without proper proceedings could lead to irreparable harm. He stated that the urgency of the situation warranted an immediate order.

The DHS’s announcement adds context to a recent social media post from the White House. The post referred to “six one-way tickets” for Soliman’s family, humorously suggesting a “final boarding call” while including plane emojis.

It’s relatively rare for individuals related to alleged crimes to face swift deportation, particularly when investigations are still underway.

In alignment with Noem’s earlier remarks, the DHS highlighted that the family’s level of awareness about the attack is a key focus of the investigation.

“We are looking into how much they knew about this heinous act and whether they had any support or understanding of it,” Noem said, also expressing her condolences for the victims and their families.

Soliman has been accused of attacking demonstrators in Boulder who were advocating for the return of Israeli hostages in Gaza. He faces federal hate crime charges, having mentioned targeting a group he described as “Zionists.”

The family, which includes Soliman’s 41-year-old wife, an 18-year-old daughter, and four other minors, moved to the U.S. in August 2022, with Soliman applying for asylum the following month. The family holds Egyptian citizenship, but the DHS did not provide a timeline for their potential deportation.