Federal Judge Orders ICE To Release El Gamal-Soliman Family From Texas Detention

A federal judge ordered the release of the family of a man charged in a fatal 2025 firebomb attack in Boulder, Colorado, after the family had been held in federal detention for months.

“A mother and five children from Colorado, held in federal detention since shortly after the alleged terrorist attack in Boulder last June, were freed Thursday afternoon following a ruling from a federal court in Texas”

CBS News

Haaretz reported that the judge ordered the release on Thursday of the family of the man charged in the 2025 firebomb attack in Boulder, targeting demonstrators calling for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza.

CBS News

CBS News said the mother and five children were freed Thursday afternoon after a federal court ruling in Texas, and that the judge issued an order to federal immigration officials to immediately release them from a Texas immigration detention center.

Colorado Public Radio described the same family as the El Gamal-Soliman family of Colorado Springs, saying they had been in a family detention center in Texas since the father, Mohamed Soliman, was charged last year in the anti-Semitic attack that killed one woman.

The Colorado Sun added that Hayam El Gamal and her five children were released from Dilley Immigration Processing Center, southwest of San Antonio, after nearly 10 months of detention.

In the CBS News account, the judge’s order directed that "Petitioners Hayam El Gamal, Habiba Soliman, and the 4 minor children, E.S.; A.S.; H.S.; and O.S. are ORDERED to be RELEASED IMMEDIATELY," and it barred the government from deporting or removing them from the Western District of Texas.

Across the reports, the family’s father was identified as Mohamed Soliman or Mohamed Sabry Soliman, and the attack was described as involving Molotov cocktails on a pedestrian mall in Boulder.

The court fight centered on whether Hayam El Gamal and her children should remain in immigration detention while their asylum claims proceeded.

CBS News said the family had been held in federal detention since shortly after the alleged terrorist attack in Boulder last June, and it reported that on Monday U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Chestney recommended release because the government failed to prove the family is dangerous or a flight risk.

Haaretz

CBS News further stated that Chestney said there were "significant risks that the Government will intervene to again target Petitioners' case and to prevent their lawful release."

Colorado Public Radio said a federal magistrate judge in Texas found the family hadn’t received due process before they were placed in detention rather than being allowed to remain free while pursuing asylum claims, and that the magistrate said they shouldn’t be detained or even required to post bond unless they are a demonstrated national security threat or a poor bail risk.

The Colorado Sun reported that Biery ordered the family released while their asylum claim proceeds in immigration court, and it described the conditions placed on the family: El Gamal and her 18-year-old daughter, Habiba, must wear electronic monitors and comply with "reasonable" reporting requirements.

In the Associated Press material carried by Haaretz and the Cleburne Times-Review, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery said Hayam El Gamal and her five children can be released from a family immigration detention center in Dilley, Texas, as long as El Gamal and her oldest child, who is 18, wear electronic monitoring.

Colorado Public Radio added that the family has pending asylum claims and immigrated to the United States from Egypt, and it said they were settled with jobs and a home in Colorado Springs.

The ruling triggered sharp responses from both the legal team representing the family and the Department of Homeland Security.

CBS News quoted Niels Frenzen, an attorney at the University of Southern California's Gould School of Law Immigration Clinic, saying, "A federal judge has ordered the Government to release a family who have been unlawfully targeted and punished because of the alleged actions of their husband and father," and adding, "This release order is long overdue. But the Administration's efforts to deport the family continue, so their ordeal is not over yet."

CBS News also included a direct response from Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis, who said, "Despite receiving full due process and a final order of removal, this activist judge appointed by Bill Clinton is releasing this terrorist's family onto American streets."

Bis continued in the CBS News report with, "Under President Trump, DHS will continue to fight for the removal of those who have no right to be in our country especially national security threats."

Colorado Public Radio similarly quoted Bis attacking the judge, saying, "This activist judge appointed by Bill Clinton is releasing this terrorist’s family onto American streets," and it added, "Under President Trump, DHS will continue to fight for the removal of those who have no right to be in the U.S., especially national security threats."

The Colorado Sun reported that in a statement Bis said the federal government will "continue to fight" for the deportation of those not living in the country legally, "especially national security threats," and it repeated her line, "We are applying the law as written without prejudice."

Colorado Public Radio quoted Federal Magistrate Elizabeth Chestney describing the family’s targeting, saying, "It is unquestionable that (the family) have been targeted by the government due to their connection to an individual allegedly responsible for a terrorist act".

Although all the reports describe the same Thursday release order by U.S. District Judge Fred Biery, they frame the story through different details about timing, conditions, and the underlying attack.

Haaretz presents the case as a federal judge ordering the release of the family of a man charged in a fatal 2025 firebomb attack in Boulder, Colorado, and it emphasizes that the attack targeted demonstrators calling for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza.

CBS News

The Cleburne Times-Review, also carrying Associated Press content, focuses on the immigration mechanics, saying Biery ordered the release from immigration custody of Hayam El Gamal and her five children in Dilley, Texas, as long as El Gamal and her oldest child, who is 18, wear electronic monitoring, and it notes that Biery denied the government’s request to stay his ruling so it could appeal.

CBS News foregrounds the court order language and the government’s objection, quoting the order that the petitioners are "ORDERED to be RELEASED IMMEDIATELY" and describing that the government filed an objection to recommendations issued by the court on Monday.

Colorado Public Radio emphasizes the due process findings and the political context, quoting Federal Magistrate Elizabeth Chestney that it was "unquestionable" the family was targeted due to their connection to the father’s alleged terrorist activity, and it recounts that President Trump posted on social media that they "COULD BE DEPORTED AS EARLY AS TONIGHT."

The Colorado Sun emphasizes the family’s personal circumstances and community response, saying friends, teachers and classmates called for officials to release the El Gamals for months and describing that the eldest daughter was set to graduate high school with honors and had dreams of attending medical school.

It also includes a courtroom exchange, quoting Biery asking, “Are you old enough to remember Rod Serling and ‘The Twilight Zone’?” and quoting Christopher Godshall-Bennett’s reply, “Yes, that is exactly what it is,” while also noting that the judge denied the Department of Justice request to postpone the release order.

Even after the release, the reports describe ongoing legal proceedings and continued government efforts tied to deportation and asylum.

“The family of a man charged in a Boulder firebomb attack was released from a family detention center in Texas following a federal judge’s order Thursday”

The Colorado Sun

CBS News said the order came as part of a lawsuit filed on behalf of El Gamal and her five children seeking their release, and it reported that after the release, an attorney for the family said they needed to figure out urgent medical issues immediately.

Haaretz

CBS News also stated that the judge barred the government from deporting or removing the family from the Western District of Texas, and it described that on Monday Magistrate Judge Chestney recommended release while finding the government failed to prove danger or flight risk.

Colorado Public Radio said Biery ordered the family released while their asylum claim proceeds in immigration court, and it described that the judge blocked any effort by the Department of Homeland Security to deport them for now.

The Colorado Sun added that Biery’s ruling Thursday had no bearing on the family’s legal status and that their asylum case will continue in immigration court, while also ordering a status report be filed no later than 4 p.m. Friday confirming the family has been released.

It also reported that the hearing and judge’s ruling had been met with joy and relief by friends and neighbors in Colorado Springs, and it quoted Alexandria Newton calling the ruling “a testament to the tireless work of their legal team and the diverse community of advocates — spanning many faith backgrounds and generations — who stood against the cruelty of their detainment.”

Meanwhile, Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis told CBS News Colorado that the administration would continue to fight for removal, saying, "Under President Trump, DHS will continue to fight for the removal of those who have no right to be in our country especially national security threats."