Egyptians have been accused of injuring multiple individuals during an attack in Boulder, Colorado. Protesters are advocating for the release of an Israeli hostage, one of many individuals who overstay their visas in the United States each year.
Mohamed Sabrie Soliman, 45, originally from Egypt, relocated to Colorado Springs three years ago, living with his wife and five children. He previously resided in Kuwait for 17 years.
According to Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, Soliman arrived in the U.S. on a tourist visa in August 2022, which expired in February 2023. He applied for asylum in September 2022 and was granted work authorization in March 2023, though that authorization has since expired. The department has not provided further details when requested.
Federal immigration officials took Soliman’s wife and child into custody on Tuesday. Homeland Security Secretary Christie Noem indicated that authorities are looking into whether Soliman’s family is aware of his intentions.
What is known about visa overstays?
According to Homeland Security, 565,155 visa overstays were recorded among visitors arriving by air or sea between October 2022 and September 2023. For the most recent annual report.
The true number of overstays is likely much higher but remains unspecified, as it does not account for those entering and exiting via land. The costs and complexities of implementing a checkout system at busy land crossings are exceedingly high.
In 2023, the overstay rate for Egyptians holding business or tourist visas was 4%, significantly lower than some countries with higher rates, such as Chad (49%), Laos (34%), and Sudan (26%).
Historically, estimates suggest that around 40% of individuals in the U.S. have overstayed their visas, yet accurate data is challenging to obtain. In 2016, Homeland Security revealed its overstay statistics for the first time in over two decades.
How did Soliman receive his work permit?
The specifics have not been disclosed by homeland security.
However, asylum seekers are eligible for work authorization 180 days after their arrival, which aligns with Soliman’s entry in August 2022 and his work permit issuance in March 2023.
Critics argue that this creates significant incentives for asylum claims from those with dubious work visa applications. The immigration courts are facing a backlog of approximately 3.6 million cases, meaning resolutions could take years.
The relative ease with which asylum seekers can obtain work permits has heightened tensions among individuals who may have been in the country illegally for years or even decades.
Records from immigration courts are not publicly accessible, leaving the details of Soliman’s asylum case unclear.
According to the Transaction Record Access Clearinghouse, Egyptians saw a 72% asylum grant rate from September 2023 to September 2024, compared to a 45% rate across all nationalities.
Source: apnews.com