Antisemitic attack suspect's relatives detained by ICE, sources claim, with their visas also cancelled
Newspiece:
Antisemitic Attack Sparks ICE Detention and Deportation Proceedings for Family
The family of Mohamed Soliman, a man charged with attempted murder following an antisemitic Molotov cocktail attack in Boulder, Colorado, is currently in custody with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Soliman, the suspected attacker, has a wife and five children, all now facing expedited removal from the US, as per information shared by the White House on their social media platform. The family is being held in Florence, Colorado.
Reports indicate that immigration authorities planned to transfer the family to a detention facility in Texas as they await final expulsion proceedings. However, the exact country to which they may be deported remains unclear.
Following the attack, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem asked multiple federal agencies under her purview to intensify their review of immigration records and "crackdown on visa overstays."
While the administration could move quickly to deport Soliman's family, it's worth noting that usually, individuals entering on a visa can't be placed directly in fast-track deportation proceedings. This process, known as expedited removal, allows immigration authorities to remove someone without a hearing before an immigration judge.
However, the situation took an unexpected turn with the intervention of the judicial system. A judge issued an order halting the deportation of Soliman's family, expressing concerns about the family being held without adequate access to representation.
Despite this legal development, the Department of Homeland Security is still investigating the role and potential knowledge of the family in Soliman's actions, for which he faces serious charges, including federal hate crime charges and multiple state felony charges.
During his arrest, Soliman stated that "no one" knew about his attack plans and that "he never talked to his wife or family about it," according to the affidavit for his arrest filed Sunday. In a social media post, Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed strong words, stating, "In light of yesterday's horrific attack, all terrorists, their family members, and terrorist sympathizers here on a visa should know that under the Trump Administration we will find you, revoke your visa, and deport you."
This story has been updated with additional information.
Information provided by our team: John Miller, Josh Campbell, Lauren Mascarenhas, Curt Devine, Majlie de Puy Kamp, Mostafa Salem, Evan Perez, and Karina Tsui.
Now, let me share some background insights on the expedited removal process:
Expedited removal was established to bypass the judicial system in dealing with illegal immigrants. Instead, border patrol agents are given the authority to send illegal immigrants back to their home country without a hearing. This process has been criticized for its potential to lead to wrongful deportations[1]. It's important to note that this process can be challenged in court.
Historically, expedited removal was not available for individuals who arrived in the United States prior to April 1, 1997. However, in 2004, the scope of the process was expanded to include individuals who entered the country at any time and those who were already in the country but had been here for less than 14 days[2].
[1] https://www.npr.org/2017/07/28/538358762/its-getting-easier-to-deport-illegal-immigrants-but-does-that-mean-it-should[2] https://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/01/us/reaching-out-to-the-undocumented.html[3] https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/04/us/politics/trump-immigration-asylum-rules.html[4] https://www.aclu.org/news/immigrants-rights/policy-advocacy/expedited-removal[5] https://www.justice.gov/eoir/page/file/1108751/download
- The family of Mohamed Soliman, currently detained by ICE due to their immigration status, are subject to the expedited removal process, a general-news topic that bypasses the judicial system in dealing with illegal immigrants.
- The Department of Homeland Security has expanded the expedited removal process to include individuals who entered the country at any time and those who were already in the country but had been here for less than 14 days, which is a significant change in crime-and-justice and politics regarding immigration.
