A former FBI agent has raised concerns about visa overstays being a national security issue, following a terror attack in Boulder, Colorado that left 15 people injured. The attack, allegedly carried out by Mohamed Sabry Soliman, an Egyptian national, underscores the potential dangers of individuals overstaying their visas. Soliman, who arrived in the U.S. on a B1/B2 visa and later obtained work authorization, is accused of firebombing a group of pro-Israel protesters. A former FBI supervisor, Jonathan Gilliam, emphasized that the current system for tracking overstayers is inadequate and called for improved monitoring mechanisms to prevent future incidents.
The FBI supervisor highlighted the lack of systems to monitor overstayers, noting that the number of individuals who have overstayed their visas is a significant concern. Gilliam pointed out that the Department of Homeland Security reported over 400,000 suspected visa overstayers in fiscal year 2023, with over 1.5 million overstayers between 2020 and 2023. He argued that the current system is not equipped to track these individuals effectively, increasing the risk of similar attacks.
Soliman’s work authorization, which allowed him to have jobs at Vero Health and Uber, ended in March 2025, around three months before the alleged attack. While Soliman was in the United States on a B1/B2 visa, he obtained work authorization that allowed him to have jobs at Vero Health and Uber. A spokesperson for Vero Health explained that Soliman worked at the company for about three months before leaving, but did not provide a reason for his departure. Uber also confirmed that Soliman began driving for the company in the spring of 2023 and passed a background check.
Soliman was charged with multiple serious crimes, including first-degree murder, crimes against at-risk adults/elderly, first-degree assault, and the use of explosives or incendiary devices during a felony. His alleged actions have sparked renewed calls for reform in the visa system and stricter monitoring of individuals who overstay their visas. Gilliam stressed that without better tracking mechanisms and policies, the threat of future attacks could persist, highlighting the importance of proactive measures to address the issue of visa overstays.