Editorial credit: Robert P. Alvarez / shutterstock.com
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 4, 2025: In a decisive move following a violent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has directed a nationwide crackdown on visa overstays. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) have been ordered to intensify the review of immigration records and take swift action to locate and remove individuals who have overstayed their visas.
The directive comes in response to the arrest of Mohammed Sabry Solima, a 45-year-old Egyptian national, who is accused of setting eight Americans on fire in a shocking act of terrorism. Authorities say Solima, who entered the U.S. legally but failed to leave when his visa expired in 2022, had been living unlawfully in the country.
Solima now faces federal hate crime charges and multiple felony charges under Colorado state law. The incident, which has left the Boulder community in shock and mourning, has reignited national concerns about immigration enforcement and the dangers posed by individuals who remain in the U.S. illegally.
“There is NO room in the United States for the rest of the world’s terrorist sympathizers,” Secretary Noem said in a strongly worded statement. “Anyone who thinks they can come to America and advocate for antisemitic violence and terrorism – think again. You are not welcome here. We will find you, deport you, and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is now prioritizing a top-down review of nonimmigrant visa holders, particularly those from high-risk countries. Officials say data integration between ICE, CBP, and USCIS will be streamlined to flag expired visas more rapidly and initiate removal proceedings without delay.
This policy shift comes amid mounting criticism of what Noem called the “Biden Administration’s failure to enforce the law,” specifically citing lax immigration oversight that she argues allowed Solima to remain in the U.S. despite his expired visa.
The visa overstay crackdown is expected to include workplace audits, increased cooperation with local law enforcement, and expanded use of biometric data to identify and locate visa violators.
Analysts say the move could signal a broader shift in U.S. immigration policy under Secretary Noem’s leadership, with a renewed focus on national security and enforcement. Civil rights advocates, however, have expressed concerns about potential overreach and racial profiling.
In the wake of the Boulder attack, officials emphasize that the new policies aim to protect all Americans from threats associated with unlawful immigration while ensuring that immigration laws are enforced fairly and uniformly.