Boulder Suspect’s Daughter, Aspiring Doctor, Now at Risk of Deportation.

Dreams Derailed: Daughter of Boulder Hate Crime Suspect Faces Deportation After Father’s Arrest

Habiba Soliman came to the United States with hopes of becoming a doctor and changing lives. But her future is now uncertain after her father, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, was charged in connection with a violent hate crime in Boulder, Colorado.

Federal authorities allege that the 45-year-old Egyptian national carried out a premeditated attack on a weekly demonstration supporting Israeli hostages held in Gaza. The incident, which occurred just three days after Habiba’s high school graduation, left a dozen people injured by fire, including an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor. Two victims remain hospitalized. Soliman faces a federal hate crime charge and 16 counts of attempted murder.

According to a federal affidavit, Soliman told investigators he had planned the assault for a year, deliberately waiting until after his daughter’s graduation.

The Soliman family, originally from Egypt and most recently living in the U.S. after a move from Kuwait, now faces deportation. Despite having no known involvement in the crime, Habiba, her mother, and four siblings could be deported imminently, the White House stated Tuesday on X.

Habiba had recently won a Colorado Springs Gazette “Best and Brightest” scholarship and was profiled in the paper. In her application, she wrote of her dream to pursue medicine and the lessons she learned from adapting to life in the U.S.

“Most importantly, I came to appreciate that family is the unchanging support,” she wrote.

Now, her future hangs in the balance. Authorities have acknowledged the family’s cooperation in the investigation.

Family of Boulder Attack Suspect in ICE Custody Amid Ongoing Investigation

The family of Mohamed Sabry Soliman, the suspect in the recent Boulder attack, is currently in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials, according to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Efforts to reach the family for comment have been unsuccessful.

“Noem stated on the X platform, ‘This terrorist will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We are investigating the extent of his family’s knowledge or support regarding this heinous attack.’”

A booking photograph of Mohamed Sabry Soliman was taken following his arrest in Boulder, Colorado on June 2, 2025.

Scholarship Winner’s Medical Aspirations Inspired by Father’s Recovery

Habiba Soliman’s passion for medicine traces back to her father’s recovery from a difficult surgery, which she described as “magic” in a Colorado Springs Gazette profile. After moving from Kuwait to the U.S., she embraced new opportunities, including volunteering at UCHealth hospital, a role she hoped would support her future medical career.

‘Best and Brightest’ Scholarship Recognizes Academic and Community Excellence

Habiba was one of 20 recipients of the prestigious “Best and Brightest” senior class scholarship, awarded by Gazette Charities for academic achievement, leadership, character, and community commitment. The program requires applicants to have at least a 2.5 GPA and a clear vision for their future.

She was the sole winner from Thomas MacLaren School, a well-regarded charter school with nearly 950 students.

Overcoming Challenges: From Language Barriers to Leadership

In her scholarship essay, Habiba reflected on the hardships of moving to the U.S. and learning English, describing her sophomore year as isolating. She later founded an Arabic club and helped welcome new students. Her teacher, Madalyn Rilling, praised her growth into a class leader with fluent English and advanced academic skills.

Potential Deportation Faces Family Amid Broader Immigration Enforcement

The White House highlighted on X the imminent threat of deportation facing Mohamed Soliman’s wife and five children, signaling the administration’s firm stance on immigration enforcement linked to criminal cases.

This is not the first case where families connected to suspects face deportation under President Donald Trump’s administration. Previously, relatives of a convicted murderer in Georgia were also detained and slated for deportation after Trump took office in 2025.