How did the Boulder attack suspect have a Colorado license?
(COLORADO) — More details about the Boulder Pearl Street Mall suspect, 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, are surfacing days after the attack.
Soliman, who lived in El Paso County, entered the U.S. in August 2022 on a B-2 tourist visa, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The visa is used for foreign tourists' visits to the U.S. DHS further confirmed that the visa expired in February 2023.
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin told AP News that Soliman filed for asylum in September 2022 and was granted work authorization in March 2023, which had also expired.
On Monday, June 2, Congressman Jeff Crank reported that Soliman had received a Colorado-issued driver's license in July 2024, a year after his visa had expired.
'Instead of turning him over to ICE, Colorado lawmakers gave him a sanctuary pass,' Crank wrote via X (formerly known as Twitter). 'Shocker.'
FOX21 News reached out to the Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), which confirmed that Soliman had received a Colorado driver's license
'The DMV has reviewed the history of this individual and confirms that federal law and Colorado law and rule were followed in the issuance of a Standard driver's license, which are authorized under the REAL ID Act and are not REAL ID compliant,' the DMV said.
The DMV further explained that under Colorado law, 'if a person provides valid proof of temporary lawful presence at the time of issuance, the DMV will issue the person a Standard Credential. Standard credentials are valid for 3 years, and include a black banner that identifies it as a Standard credential and language on its face that states it cannot be used for federal purposes.'
The law, C.R.S. 42-2-506, states that an individual who is temporarily present in the U.S. could apply for an identification document if they had any documents that showed the individual is lawfully present in the U.S. and 'satisfied the department'.
DMV law for undocumented Colorado residents changed on March 31, 2025. A Colorado bill signed in 2024, SB24-182, updated issuance requirements for undocumented residents and would allow them to obtain a non-Real ID compliant driver's license.
According to the DMV, effective on March 31, applicants would no longer need a Social Security number or individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN), proof of Colorado income tax, or printed documentation of Colorado residence for the preceding two years. Applicants would need to provide:
A completed CO-RCSA affidavit
One proof of current Colorado residential address
One form of identification: passport, consular card, or military identification card from the home country
'Colorado lawmakers and our governor gave him a sanctuary pass,' Crank said during a meeting. 'This tragedy could have been avoided.'
When Soliman applied in July 2024, the requirements of providing a social security card or ITIN, proof of Colorado income tax, or printed documentation of Colorado residence were still applicable.
Soliman was granted a work permit in 2023, according to DHS; however, they did not say how he obtained it. Asylum seekers become eligible for work authorization 180 days after arrival.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said Soliman had tried to purchase a gun in November 2024 at Scheels in Colorado Springs. His application was processed through the CBI InstaCheck and was denied.
'He never appealed his denial,' CBI said. 'This denial was based on information from the NCIS (National Instant Criminal Background Check System). He would later be denied a Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP) through the CBI and El Paso County Sheriff's Office on December 30, 2024.'
Soliman is accused of committing an attack on a group of protesters who were demonstrating at the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder. According to an arrest affidavit, Soliman confessed to committing the attack.
He is currently being held in Boulder County Jail on a $10 million cash bond only.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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