Federal judge halts deportation of family of Colorado attack suspect amid due process concerns

Reuters

A U.S. district judge has temporarily blocked the deportation of the wife and five children of the suspect in a recent firebombing attack in Boulder, Colorado, citing concerns over due process and potential irreparable harm.

A federal judge in Colorado on Wednesday issued a temporary order preventing the deportation of the wife and five children of Mohamed Sabry Soliman, the man accused in a firebombing attack on a gathering in Boulder, Colorado.

In his ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Gordon Gallagher emphasized that deporting the family without proper legal procedure could result in "irreparable harm." The decision came in response to a lawsuit filed on behalf of Soliman’s wife, Hayam El Gamal, and their children, seeking to halt deportation and allow the family to pursue asylum claims in the United States.

The complaint stated that El Gamal was "shocked to learn" of her husband's alleged involvement in a violent act targeting a peaceful vigil held in support of Israeli hostages. The family asserts no prior knowledge of the attack and claims they are being unjustly targeted.

"It is patently unlawful to punish individuals for the crimes of their relatives. Such methods of collective or family punishment violate the very foundations of a democratic justice system," the legal filing argued.

Although the White House indicated the family would be removed under an expedited deportation process, the lawsuit contends that this approach does not apply to them, as they have resided in the U.S. for more than two years—making them ineligible for fast-track removal under existing immigration laws.

The case raises broader concerns over collective punishment and due process protections for immigrant families in the wake of criminal investigations involving relatives.

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