In an urgent decision, a federal judge appointed by the Biden administration in Colorado paused the deportation process for the wife and five children of Mohamed Soliman, who is currently under federal investigation for the firebombing incident in Boulder.

U.S. District Judge Gordon P. Gallagher issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) that stops federal immigration officials from deporting Soliman’s wife, Hayem El Gamal, along with their five children—at least for the time being.

“Defendants are temporarily restrained and enjoined from deporting Hayem El Gamal and her five minor children from the State of Colorado or the United States,” Gallagher stated in the order.

The ruling will remain in effect until a scheduled hearing on June 13.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that the wife and children of Boulter, Colorado terror suspect Mohamed Sabry Soliman were arrested. (X/Sec_Noem | Boulder Police Department | AP)

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has publicly addressed the detention and potential deportation of El Gamal and her five children. In a social media video Tuesday, Secretary Noem confirmed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had taken Soliman’s family into custody. 

“Mohamed’s despicable actions will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, but we’re also investigating to what extent his family knew about this horrific attack,” Noem said in the X post. “If they had any knowledge of it or if they provided any support to it.”

Video stills of a man later identified as Mohamed Soliman throwing an incendiary device into a group of pro-Israel supporters (off camera) in Boulder, Colorado, Sunday, June 1, 2025. Soliman was subsequently arrested by police. (Alex Osante)

The Boulder attack triggered a political firestorm in Washington and Colorado, as Republican lawmakers have slammed it as a lack of immigration enforcement through sanctuary policies and poor management during the Biden administration.

“This is a direct result of failed sanctuary states like Colorado and California,” Rep. Gabe Evans, R-Colo., said in the aftermath of the attack. “For the sake of our state, Democrats MUST stop putting illegals ahead of Americans. There are lives on the line.”

Meanwhile, Gov. Jared Polis’ office said they were never aware of any threat from the suspect.”

“The reality is that Colorado is not a sanctuary state and state, federal and local law enforcement work together closely to apprehend criminals, whether they are from this country or not,” a spokesperson for Polis’ office told Fox News Digital, adding that the governor “expects to see the suspect prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

“There were no requests from federal law enforcement agencies regarding this individual, and if there had been then the state would have eagerly cooperated. Reports indicate that this person’s legal presence ended in March, nearly three months ago, and we are not aware of any attempt by any federal agency to deport him,” the spokesperson added.

In addition, some Democrats in Colorado also faced scrutiny for attending a fundraiser with Rep. Ilhan Omar in nearby Denver roughly 30 minutes after the attack, as she’s had a past history of anti-Semitic remarks and intense criticism of Israel.