In a chilling revelation that has left the nation reeling, FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed Monday evening that Mohamad Soliman, the man behind the brutal attack in Boulder, Colorado, was in the United States illegally—and had no legal right to be here in the first place.
According to Patel’s report, the 45-year-old Egyptian national, long affiliated with the Middle East Institute as a “Senior Fellow,” launched a horrifying terrorist attack on a peaceful pro-Israel rally in Boulder on June 1st. Armed with Molotov cocktails and a makeshift flamethrower, Soliman targeted elderly demonstrators, some as old as 88, who had gathered to peacefully show solidarity with Jewish communities.
Eyewitnesses described a scene of sheer terror as flames erupted and panicked screams echoed through the park. One survivor, 72-year-old Harold Levine, described seeing “fire raining from the sky” as Soliman shouted, “FREE PALESTINE,” before hurling explosives into the crowd. “He looked like he wanted to burn every one of us alive,” Levine said, still shaken from his hospital bed.
Six elderly Americans are being treated for severe burns and smoke inhalation, with two reportedly in critical condition. Soliman was tackled by bystanders and apprehended by police minutes later, though not before causing irreversible trauma.
And now comes the question on everyone’s mind: Who let him in?
According to internal DHS documentation leaked in tandem with Patel’s announcement, Soliman had overstayed a student visa by nearly 18 years, with ICE allegedly aware of his status but never acting on a removal order due to internal delays and policy “reviews.” The revelation has sparked outrage across the country, with critics blaming successive administrations for what they call decades of criminal negligence in immigration enforcement.
Patel’s statement was direct—and damning.
“This was a preventable act of terror,” Patel declared during a high-stakes press conference. “Soliman was flagged multiple times, known to DHS, and somehow, due to systemic failures, he was not only allowed to remain here—but to thrive, lecture, and ultimately carry out an attack that left innocent Americans scorched and bleeding.”
The White House has yet to respond to the growing firestorm. President Trump has reportedly requested a “full accounting” of how Soliman avoided deportation. But critics on the Hill aren’t waiting.
Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) took to the Senate floor, calling for immediate hearings and accusing Homeland Security of “gross betrayal.” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene tweeted, “This is what happens when you open your borders and close your eyes. How many more must burn before we take back control?”
Even some moderates have expressed concern. “There is no excuse—none—for letting someone slip through the cracks for nearly two decades and then allowing him to commit an act of terror,” said Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ).
But while Washington scrambles, the internet is already exploding. Social media platforms were flooded with furious reactions late Monday. The hashtag #WhoLetHimIn trended nationwide, as users demanded resignations, mass deportations, and answers.
Some are now pointing fingers at Soliman’s professional ties. As a Middle East analyst at a prominent D.C. think tank, Soliman had access to academic circles, media outlets, and government briefings. One anonymous DHS official warned, “This isn’t just a failure of enforcement. This is infiltration at the highest levels. He moved through our institutions like a ghost—and no one stopped to ask why he was here.”
The Middle East Institute has since issued a brief statement, condemning the attack and claiming no knowledge of Soliman’s immigration status. But critics aren’t buying it.
Patel, meanwhile, has pledged sweeping reforms to prevent another tragedy. “We cannot allow dangerous individuals—especially those already on our radar—to roam freely in our streets, much less incite terror,” he said. “This cannot happen again.”
Still, for many Americans, that promise comes too late. As elderly victims lie burned in hospital beds and the ashes of a peaceful demonstration still smolder, one truth remains impossible to ignore:
Soliman shouldn’t have been here at all.
And now, the nation waits to see whether Washington will finally act—or simply issue another apology while the next fire ignites.
