US Homeland Security Plans Nationwide Crackdown on Visa Overstays After Boulder Terror Attack

Following a terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado, where Egyptian national Mohammed Sabry Soliman set multiple Americans on fire, U.S. authorities have launched an urgent crackdown on visa overstays. Soliman, who unlawfully remained in the U.S. after overstaying his visa since 2022, faces federal hate crime and multiple felony charges. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem directed U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to accelerate immigration record reviews and enforce strict actions against visa overstays, emphasizing zero tolerance for terrorist sympathizers. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons highlighted a significant push to identify and deport visa overstayers, criticizing previous administration failures in screening and enforcement. This expanded focus on visa overstays marks a shift from prior enforcement priorities, aiming to prevent future attacks by removing individuals who violate immigration laws. The Biden administration's handling of immigration enforcement has been criticized as lax, prompting renewed efforts to restore stricter oversight and deportation to enhance national security.