FLASHBACK: US Lawmakers Warned of Terror Risks from Foreign Nationals Before Boulder Attack
Lawmakers and intelligence officials have long expressed concerns about the risks posed by foreign nationals entering the U.S. through lax border security. These warnings have been highlighted by a recent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado, where an illegal immigrant, who overstayed his visa, used a makeshift flamethrower to attack a pro-Israel event, injuring eight people. The incident has reignited debates over immigration policies and their role in national security.
Republicans and former FBI officials have consistently raised alarms about potential terrorist threats from foreign nationals entering the U.S. illegally. In August 2024, then-House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chair Mike Turner and House Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green called for action after a report revealed the Biden administration had released nearly 100 illegal immigrants into the U.S. The lawmakers emphasized that the administration’s open border policies have made the country vulnerable to terrorism.
Former FBI Director Christopher Wray also raised similar concerns. In April 2024, Wray told the House Judiciary Committee that the FBI is working with ICE to identify and arrest individuals with suspected international terrorist ties. However, he noted that the use of false documents makes it more difficult to detect potential threats. Wray warned that many dangerous individuals may still be in the U.S. without being identified because they provided fake documents.
Meanwhile, Democrats have countered these concerns, pointing to studies showing that no U.S. citizens have been injured or killed by foreign-born terrorists who entered the country illegally. Rep. Lou Correa, D-Calif., cited a Cato Institute study that found no deaths from such attacks between 1975 and 2022. Correa argued that most terrorist activity in the U.S. is carried out by American citizens, not undocumented immigrants.
Amid these debates, the recent Boulder attack has taken a personal toll. The suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, was reportedly in the U.S. illegally and had overstayed his visa. He was involved in an event organized by the grassroots group ‘Run for Their Lives,’ which advocates for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza. Soliman is said to have shouted ‘Free Palestine’ and used a homemade flamethrower during the attack. The FBI is investigating the incident as an act of terrorism and targeted violence.
The Trump administration has also criticized the Biden administration for its immigration policies, which they claim facilitated Soliman’s entry. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller stated that the suspect was granted a tourist visa by the Biden administration and then overstayed it, eventually securing a work permit. He called for reversing what he described as ‘suicidal migration.’ Meanwhile, Green called the attack a ‘wake-up call’ and urged a briefing from the Department of Homeland Security for House Homeland Security Committee members.
As the investigation continues, the incident has deepened the divide between political factions over immigration policy and its impact on national security. The debate over whether the U.S. should tighten border controls to prevent terrorism remains a contentious issue, with strong opinions on both sides.