By Janice Hisle
The White House says the family of the suspect in Sunday’s terror attack in Boulder, Colorado, might be deported from the United States immediately.
“Six One-Way Tickets for Mohammed’s Wife and Five Kids. Final Boarding Call Coming Soon,” the White House posted on social media platform X on June 3 just before the close of normal business hours.
The post included a photo of Mohammed Soliman, 45, who was arrested in connection with a firebombing that burned at least a dozen Jewish supporters at a June 1 rally. A headline on the photo stated, “Wife And Kids of Illegal Alien Behind Antisemitic Firebombing Could Be Deported By Tonight.”
That post was made about two hours after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that Soliman’s family was being taken into federal custody.
Authorities say the Egyptian national was in the United States illegally after overstaying a visa and work permit, and that he lived in Colorado Springs with his wife and five children.
Noem’s post said Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers “are taking the family … into ICE custody.”
That action was taken to investigate “to what extent his family knew about this horrific attack, if they had any knowledge of it, or if they provided support to it,” Noem said.
Officials said eight people were taken to hospitals after Soliman allegedly used a makeshift flamethrower and Molotov cocktails to burn rally participants; four others came forward with less serious injuries. At least one person suffered critical injuries. Soliman was also injured, and wore a bandage on his head when his mug shot was taken.
Soliman faces multiple federal and state charges, including attempted murder; a judge ruled that he will remain in the Boulder County Jail unless he posts a $10 million cash-only bond.
An FBI affidavit said that Soliman told investigators he had left messages for his family on a cellphone that he hid in a desk drawer at his home before making the two-hour drive to Boulder.
He had planned the onslaught for more than a year, investigators said, adding that Soliman stated he used YouTube videos to learn how to make explosive devices that were used in the attack. Soliman also said he was targeting Jews out of hatred, the FBI said.
U.S. Attorney J. Bishop Grewell told reporters that Soliman admitted he would have used a firearm if he had been able to buy one; federal laws generally forbid noncitizens from buying guns.
Noem said: “I am continuing to pray for the victims of this attack and for all of their families. Our thoughts and our prayers go out to all of them, and I want them to know that justice will be served.”
On June 2, Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on social media a warning to “all terrorists, their family members and terrorist sympathizers,” stating that the Trump administration would ”find you, revoke your visa, and deport you.”
Many commenters applauded Rubio and others in President Donald Trump’s administration for stricter immigration enforcement. Others pointed out that Soliman’s work permit expired in March 2025—after the president took office, critics noted, saying his administration had failed to nab Soliman before the attack.
