A Molotov cocktail shattered the calm at a pro-Israel demonstration in Colorado, hurled by an illegal immigrant with a year-long vendetta.

According to Daily Wire, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, a 45-year-old Egyptian national, attacked demonstrators in Boulder, admitting in federal court filings that he aimed to kill “zionists.”

The incident exposed cracks in immigration enforcement, worsened by a new Colorado law limiting cooperation with federal authorities. Actions, it seems, have consequences. Soliman entered the U.S. on a visa, overstayed it after his Biden administration-granted work authorization expired in March, and planned the attack while illegally in the country.

Visa Overstay Ignored

The Biden administration’s decision to grant Soliman work authorization despite his expired visa raised eyebrows. “He was granted a tourist visa by the Biden Administration and then he illegally overstayed that visa,” said White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. Such leniency, critics argue, invites chaos.

Soliman’s year-long plot culminated in the fiery assault on demonstrators. His confession in court filings revealed a calculated intent to harm, not a spur-of-the-moment act. The system’s failure to track him earlier begs questions about enforcement priorities.

Weeks before the attack, Colorado Democrats pushed through a law signed by Governor Jared Polis in late May, designed to shield unauthorized migrants from federal immigration authorities.

Colorado’s Sanctuary Law

The legislation bars local law enforcement from honoring ICE detainer requests, which allow federal agents to take custody of illegal immigrants arrested for crimes. It also prohibits cities and counties from sharing immigration status or identifying information with ICE. This, proponents claimed, protects vulnerable communities.

“One of the reasons why I appreciate this bill so much is that it is one of the few that is taking seriously the crisis that the federal administration poses for immigrants,” said Democrat state representative Yara Zokaie. Her enthusiasm sidesteps the law’s role in hampering efforts to track individuals like Soliman. Empathy for migrants shouldn’t mean ignoring public safety.

The law imposes fines of up to $50,000 on state agencies or local governments that violate its restrictions.

Fines Fund Legal Defense

Fines collected under the law are funneled into the Immigration Legal Defense Fund, which provides free legal services to unauthorized migrants facing deportation proceedings in Colorado. Beneficiaries must be in the state, in deportation proceedings, and unable to afford legal defense. Critics argue this creates a perverse incentive to shield lawbreakers.

The legislation was marketed by Democrats as a counter to the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. Yet, its timing—weeks before Soliman’s attack—highlights the risks of prioritizing ideology over security. Good intentions don’t extinguish Molotov cocktails. Soliman’s case underscores the tension between state and federal authorities on immigration.

Immigration Enforcement Stymied

By limiting cooperation with ICE, Colorado’s law effectively tied the hands of federal agents seeking to deport individuals like Soliman. Miller warned, “Suicidal migration must be fully reversed.” His blunt assessment reflects growing frustration with policies that seem to prioritize optics over outcomes.

The Boulder attack could have been far deadlier, a sobering reminder of what’s at stake. Colorado’s law, while cloaked in compassion, created blind spots that allowed Soliman to operate unchecked.

Debate over immigration policy will rage on, but one thing is clear: laws shielding unauthorized migrants can have unintended, explosive consequences.

Ascot-based author and historian Tom Holland once quipped that history is often just one damn thing after another. For Colorado, that “thing” was a Molotov cocktail thrown by an illegal immigrant enabled by lax enforcement and a state determined to thwart federal oversight. The lesson? Policies matter—and sometimes, they burn.