A Colorado federal judge, appointed by Biden, has thrown a wrench into the Trump administration’s plan to deport the family of a suspected terrorist, according to The Daily Caller.
On Wednesday, Judge Gordon Gallagher blocked the removal of Mohamed Soliman’s wife and five children, who were detained for expedited deportation. This decision has sparked heated debate over immigration enforcement and national security.
Mohamed Soliman, a 45-year-old Egyptian national, is accused of a fiery terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado, on June 1, 2025, targeting pro-Israeli protesters.
The Trump administration moved swiftly to detain his family on June 3, 2025, aiming to send them back to Egypt. Gallagher’s ruling vacated the deportation order, leaving the family’s fate in limbo.
Soliman’s alleged attack involved Molotov cocktails and a makeshift flamethrower, accompanied by shouts of “Free Palestine!” and “End Zionists!” The incident, which took place on a Sunday, shocked the Boulder community. Authorities are now scrutinizing whether Soliman’s family had any role in or knowledge of his actions.
Soliman entered the U.S. legally in August 2022 on a B2 visa, which expired in February 2023. He applied for asylum in September 2022, but his overstay made him an unauthorized migrant.
“He entered the country in August 2022 on a B2 visa that expired in February 2023,” a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told the Daily Caller News Foundation on June 2, 2025.
The spokesperson’s statement underscores a broken immigration system that conservatives argue fails to prioritize security. Soliman’s ability to remain in the U.S. after his visa expired raises questions about enforcement gaps. Yet, Gallagher’s ruling suggests a judicial preference for deliberation over swift action.
On June 3, 2025, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the detention of Soliman’s wife and five children. “We are investigating to what extent his family knew about this heinous attack, if they knew of it, or if they provided support to it,” Noem said. Her words reflect the administration’s zero-tolerance stance on potential threats.
The White House didn’t mince words, tweeting on June 3, 2025, “THEY COULD BE DEPORTED AS EARLY AS TONIGHT.” The tweet signaled an aggressive push to remove the family before investigations were complete. Such haste, while bold, risks overlooking due process, a point Gallagher’s ruling seems to emphasize.
Noem’s focus on the family’s potential complicity highlights the administration’s broader strategy to deter terrorism through strict immigration measures.
But Gallagher’s intervention suggests the courts may not share the same urgency. The clash between judicial caution and executive action is now front and center.
Soliman’s attack targeted a specific group, raising concerns about rising antisemitic violence. His choice of weapons—Molotov cocktails and a flamethrower—points to premeditation, fueling calls for tougher immigration vetting. Conservatives argue that Soliman’s case exemplifies the dangers of lax border policies.
Gallagher’s decision, reported by Fox News’s Bill Melugin on June 4, 2025, has drawn sharp criticism from MAGA supporters.
They see it as another example of Biden-era appointees obstructing Trump’s agenda. Yet, the judge’s ruling may reflect a commitment to ensuring the family’s rights are not trampled in the rush to deport.
The Trump administration’s plan to deport the family as early as June 3, 2025, was ambitious but legally fraught. Gallagher’s order vacating the deportation suggests courts are wary of expedited removals without a thorough investigation. This tension between speed and fairness is a recurring theme in immigration debates.
Soliman’s asylum claim, filed in September 2022, complicates the narrative. While his application was pending, his visa overstay placed him in legal jeopardy.
The system’s backlog allowed him to remain in the U.S., a fact that critics say enabled his alleged attack.
The Boulder attack has raised alarms about the government’s ability to track unauthorized migrants. Soliman’s case is a stark reminder of the challenges facing immigration enforcement. “The Colorado Terrorist attack suspect, Mohamed Soliman, is illegally in our country,” a DHS spokesperson told the Daily Caller News Foundation on June 2, 2025.
