Colorado sanctuary laws allowed an Egyptian illegal migrant to remain in the state before launching a flamethrower terror attack on pro-Israel demonstrators, proving sanctuary laws directly endanger American citizens.
Key Takeaways
- Just weeks before an Egyptian illegal immigrant’s terror attack in Colorado, state Democrats passed legislation making it harder to identify and deport illegal aliens
- The Colorado law prevents data sharing with ICE, prohibits honoring detainer requests, and imposes fines up to $50,000 on those cooperating with federal immigration authorities
- Mohamed Sabry Soliman, who overstayed his visa, attacked pro-Israel demonstrators with a makeshift flamethrower while shouting “Free Palestine”
- While Colorado shields illegal immigrants, ICE recently conducted “Operation Patriot” in Massachusetts, arresting 1,461 criminal illegal aliens despite sanctuary jurisdiction obstacles
- White House officials have directly linked Biden administration immigration policies to the Colorado terror attack
Colorado Democrats’ Sanctuary Law Preceded Terror Attack
Weeks before an Egyptian national attacked a pro-Israel rally in Boulder, Colorado Democrats passed legislation deliberately designed to shield illegal immigrants from federal immigration authorities. The law, signed by Governor Jared Polis, explicitly prohibits law enforcement from honoring ICE detainer requests and prevents crucial data sharing between state agencies and federal immigration officials. This legislation directly impeded the identification and removal of individuals like Mohamed Sabry Soliman, who had illegally overstayed his visa before launching his attack on Jewish demonstrators.
The Colorado legislation goes beyond merely refusing cooperation with federal authorities – it actively punishes those who assist ICE with fines up to $50,000, with those funds then directed to a state-run deportation defense program. In a particularly concerning twist, the law establishes the Immigration Legal Defense Fund, which provides free legal services specifically for illegal immigrants facing deportation proceedings in Colorado. These measures effectively use state resources to counteract federal immigration enforcement while potentially harboring dangerous individuals.
“One of the reasons why I appreciate this bill so much is that it is one of few that is really taking seriously the crisis that the federal administration poses for immigrants in particular and for marginalized people generally,” said Democrat state representative Yara Zokaie.
The Boulder Terror Attack
The suspect in the Boulder attack, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, was quickly identified by the FBI as an Egyptian national who had overstayed his visa. During the attack, Soliman reportedly shouted “Free Palestine” while using a makeshift flamethrower to attack Jewish demonstrators gathering for a pro-Israel rally. Despite the obvious terrorist nature of the attack, some left-wing media outlets initially attempted to downplay the incident and question the FBI’s terrorism designation, highlighting the political divide over immigration enforcement.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller directly connected the Biden administration’s immigration policies to the attack, stating: “A terror attack was committed in Boulder, Colorado by an illegal alien. He was granted a tourist visa by the Biden Administration and then he illegally overstayed that visa. In response, the Biden Administration gave him a work permit. Suicidal migration must be fully reversed.”
ICE Responds to Sanctuary Policies with Operation Patriot
While Colorado and other states implement policies to obstruct federal immigration enforcement, ICE has responded with targeted operations. Operation Patriot, recently conducted in Massachusetts, represents the largest ICE operation in history, resulting in the arrest of 1,461 illegal aliens with criminal backgrounds. The operation specifically targeted individuals with serious criminal convictions, including murderers, rapists, drug traffickers, and child predators who had been released by sanctuary jurisdictions despite ICE detainers requesting their detention.
“If sanctuary cities would change their policies and turn these violent criminal aliens over to us into our custody instead of releasing them into the public, we would not have to go out to the communities and do this,” said acting ICE Director Todd Lyons.
The operation faced significant challenges due to Massachusetts’ sanctuary policies, requiring ICE to deploy teams from other states and coordinate with federal agencies including the FBI, DEA, and ATF. Hundreds of those arrested had previously been released by local jurisdictions despite ICE detainers, highlighting how sanctuary policies directly undermine public safety. Massachusetts Democratic Governor Maura Healey expressed outrage over the operation, showing the political divide over immigration enforcement that persists even after high-profile attacks like the one in Boulder.
Public Safety Implications
The Boulder attack and similar incidents across the country demonstrate the clear public safety implications of sanctuary policies. When states implement laws specifically designed to shield illegal immigrants from federal authorities, they create environments where dangerous individuals can remain undetected until they commit violent acts. The Colorado law not only prevents cooperation with ICE but actively punishes those who attempt to assist federal immigration enforcement, creating a protective shield around illegal immigrants regardless of their backgrounds or intentions.
“Not only unsafe for ICE agents, it’s unsafe for all of us,” said Jon Fetherston regarding sanctuary policies.
As states like Colorado continue implementing policies that obstruct federal immigration enforcement, incidents like the Boulder attack reveal the real-world consequences of prioritizing political ideology over public safety. The Biden administration’s border policies combined with state-level sanctuary laws have created an environment where illegal immigrants who pose threats to communities can enter the country, remain undetected, and eventually carry out attacks against American citizens. With President Trump now addressing these critical issues, there’s renewed hope for stronger immigration enforcement and an end to dangerous sanctuary policies.
