Crime
DHS Secretary Noem Announces ICE Detention of Alleged Boulder Terrorist’s Family Amid Ongoing Investigation
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has announced that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has taken into custody the wife and five children of Mohamed Sabry Farag Soliman, the suspect in a recent alleged terror attack in Boulder, Colorado.
The family members, all Egyptian nationals, are currently being processed for removal proceedings from the United States.
“This terrorist will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Secretary Noem said in a formal statement. “We are actively investigating to determine the extent to which his family may have had prior knowledge of, or offered support for, this heinous attack. Justice will be served.”
ICE has confirmed the following family members are in federal custody:
- Hayam Salah Alsaid Ahmed Elgamal, 41, Soliman’s wife
- Habiba Mohamed Sabry Farag Soliman, 18, daughter
- Two minor sons (names withheld)
- Two minor daughters (names withheld)
All six individuals are Egyptian citizens and were listed as dependents in Soliman’s asylum application, which he filed in Denver, Colorado on September 29, 2022.
According to DHS records, Soliman and his family entered the United States legally on August 27, 2022, and were authorized to remain until February 26, 2023.
However, the family overstayed their visa, and Soliman sought asylum during that period under the Biden Administration’s immigration protocols.
ICE officials are reviewing whether the family had any knowledge of or involvement in the alleged terror plot, and Secretary Noem has indicated the investigation is ongoing.
The Department of Homeland Security is working in coordination with federal, state, and local partners to investigate any potential affiliations, communications, or material support related to the attack.
Law enforcement agencies have not released further details about the nature of the alleged plot or the charges Soliman may face.
Secretary Noem concluded her remarks by expressing continued support for the victims and their families:
“I am continuing to pray for the victims of this attack and their loved ones. We will ensure that justice is done swiftly and without compromise.”
Further updates will be released as the investigation progresses.
Orlando, Fla. — Family and friends of 33-year-old Julien Emmanuel Cruz are seeking answers and accountability following his fatal shooting outside a popular LGBTQ+ nightclub early Sunday morning.
According to the Orlando Police Department, officers responded at approximately 2:31 a.m. on February 22, 2026, to the 1900 block of North Orange Avenue, just north of Lake Ivanhoe, in reference to a reported shooting.
Upon arrival, officers located Cruz suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Authorities confirmed Cruz was born May 18, 1992.
Detectives determined that prior to the shooting, Cruz and the suspect were involved in a verbal and physical altercation on the sidewalk outside the nightclub district. Investigators say that during the dispute, the suspect retrieved a firearm from his vehicle and shot Cruz.
The suspect fled the scene in a vehicle, which patrol officers later located in the 200 block of East New Hampshire Avenue, approximately two blocks from where the shooting occurred.
Police subsequently arrested 37-year-old Jean Gabriel Borja Gil De La Madr (DOB: October 29, 1988). He has been charged with Second Degree Murder with a Firearm. Authorities confirmed this case marks the third homicide in Orlando in 2026.
Cruz’s father, Anthony Cruz, said his son and his partner had been at Savoy Orlando enjoying the evening before the violence unfolded.
According to the family, as the couple exited the club after closing time, a vehicle sped past them. Cruz’s partner allegedly yelled toward the occupants of the vehicle, prompting the car to stop. A physical altercation then reportedly began between Cruz’s partner and one of the individuals from the vehicle.
“When they fought, my son saw that was happening. My son went to intervene, and when he intervened, another guy got out of the car, and he got shot,” Anthony Cruz said. “My son didn’t deserve what happened. All I have left is a shirt — a shirt with a bullet hole.”
While police have charged Borja Gil De La Madr, Cruz’s family maintains that another individual may have been directly responsible for pulling the trigger. Authorities have not publicly confirmed whether additional suspects are being sought.
A small memorial has formed across from the nightclub, where members of the community have gathered to honor Cruz’s memory.
Joshua Cooper, owner of Savoy Orlando, said the tragedy has deeply impacted the LGBTQ+ community, even though the shooting occurred off the club’s property.
“I didn’t know the victim, but from everything I’ve been told, I wish I had,” Cooper said. “He seemed like a great kid. Seeing a family that is so heartbroken and so supportive of this community says so much.”
The Orlando Police Department has not released additional information regarding potential additional suspects. Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the altercation and shooting.
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Orlando Police Department or Crimeline.
The investigation remains active.