Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem ordered immigration authorities to crack down on immigrants who have overstayed their visas, a move that comes after an Egyptian national allegedly targeted Jews at a public demonstration in Boulder, Colorado, on Sunday.
Mohamed Sabry Soliman, the suspect in that attack, had overstayed his visa, receiving a work permit after he later applied for asylum in 2023 under the Biden administration.
“There is NO room in the United States for the rest of the world’s terrorist sympathizers. Anyone who thinks they can come to America and advocate for antisemitic violence and terrorism – think again,” Noem said in a statement. “You are not welcome here. We will find you, deport you, and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”
Todd Lyons, acting director for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, previewed the stepped-up review of visas on Monday, telling Fox News that “there’s a big push right now at ICE to identify all these individuals.”
“We have millions that have come in, you know, all across the last administration that have overstayed their visas and overstayed their welcome,” Lyons said.
Noem’s order was also directed toward Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, two other agencies under her purview at the Department of Homeland Security.
A number of suspects in recent high-profile crimes were also in the United States with an expired visa.
Mohammad Khair Dabous is a suspect in the breaching of Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia last year. Dabous overstayed a student visa and remains at large following the incident.
A Hungarian, Zsolt Zsolyomi, entered the U.S. via South Florida in October 2022 on a 90-day visa, but failed to leave. He was arrested in March by police in Miami as the prime suspect in two murders.
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The review of visa holders also extends to protest activity related to the war in Gaza. Palestinian national Leqaa Kordia was identified by the DHS as being in the U.S. illegally this past March after her visa was terminated in January 2022.
Kordia took part in protests at Columbia University in New York and was arrested for her involvement.
