Visa Overstayer's Jewish Terror Plot Exposes Biden's Border Security Failures

Paul Riverbank, 6/4/2025Recent antisemitic attacks highlight growing security concerns and border control failures in America.

The Rising Tide of Antisemitic Violence: A National Security Crisis

America faces an unprecedented wave of antisemitic violence that's forcing a painful national reckoning. The recent Boulder attack - where eight people suffered injuries in what police call a targeted terror strike - isn't just another headline. It's a warning sign we can't ignore.

I've spent decades covering political violence, but something feels different now. The raw numbers tell part of the story: Jewish Americans, barely 2% of our population, are the targets of more than two-thirds of religious hate crimes. But numbers alone don't capture the growing sense of fear in Jewish communities across the country.

Take the Boulder incident. The suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, didn't just attack random victims. Court documents reveal his chilling statement about wanting to "kill all Zionist people." Two weeks earlier in Washington, D.C., we saw Israeli Embassy staff murdered in broad daylight. The suspect's reported cry of "Free, free Palestine" during arrest speaks to deeper ideological motivations.

Law enforcement's recent track record shows both successes and concerning patterns. They've thwarted several plots - like the arrest of Muhammad Shahzeb Khan before he could act on his stated intention to "murder as many Jewish people as possible." But for every prevented attack, others slip through. In Gainesville, Florida, authorities nabbed Forrest Pemberton before he could strike a pro-Israel organization. In New York, 18-year-old Abdullah Hassan never got to execute his alleged plan against the Israeli consulate.

The political response has predictably split along partisan lines. Senator Ted Cruz champions stricter visa protocols, while Democrats resist what they view as excessive border measures. But this oversimplified debate misses crucial nuances about domestic radicalization and international extremist influences.

Ruthie Blum, senior contributing editor at Jewish News Syndicate, offers a sobering perspective: "Whether or not he actually is affiliated with a particular group... he's an ideologue, and he is acting according to a climate that is all around him." Her analysis cuts through the "lone wolf" narrative to expose deeper societal fault lines.

Looking ahead, we face hard questions about balancing security with civil liberties. How do we protect vulnerable communities without compromising our democratic values? The answers won't come easily, but the stakes couldn't be higher.

As I write this from my desk in Washington, sirens wail in the distance - a fitting soundtrack to our current moment of national uncertainty. The surge in antisemitic violence isn't just a Jewish issue or a security issue. It's an American issue that demands our immediate and sustained attention.

The Rising Tide of Antisemitic Violence: A National Security CrisisAmerica faces an unprecedented wave of antisemitic violence that's forcing a painful national reckoning. The recent Boulder attack - where eight people suffered injuries in what police call a targeted terror strike - isn't just another headline. It's a warning sign we can't ignore.I've spent decades covering political violence, but something feels different now. The raw numbers tell part of the story: Jewish Americans, barely 2% of our population, are the targets of more than two-thirds of religious hate crimes. But numbers alone don't capture the growing sense of fear in Jewish communities across the country.Take the Boulder incident. The suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, didn't just attack random victims. Court documents reveal his chilling statement about wanting to "kill all Zionist people." Two weeks earlier in Washington, D.C., we saw Israeli Embassy staff murdered in broad daylight. The suspect's reported cry of "Free, free Palestine" during arrest speaks to deeper ideological motivations.Law enforcement's recent track record shows both successes and concerning patterns. They've thwarted several plots - like the arrest of Muhammad Shahzeb Khan before he could act on his stated intention to "murder as many Jewish people as possible." But for every prevented attack, others slip through. In Gainesville, Florida, authorities nabbed Forrest Pemberton before he could strike a pro-Israel organization. In New York, 18-year-old Abdullah Hassan never got to execute his alleged plan against the Israeli consulate.The political response has predictably split along partisan lines. Senator Ted Cruz champions stricter visa protocols, while Democrats resist what they view as excessive border measures. But this oversimplified debate misses crucial nuances about domestic radicalization and international extremist influences.Ruthie Blum, senior contributing editor at Jewish News Syndicate, offers a sobering perspective: "Whether or not he actually is affiliated with a particular group... he's an ideologue, and he is acting according to a climate that is all around him." Her analysis cuts through the "lone wolf" narrative to expose deeper societal fault lines.Looking ahead, we face hard questions about balancing security with civil liberties. How do we protect vulnerable communities without compromising our democratic values? The answers won't come easily, but the stakes couldn't be higher.As I write this from my desk in Washington, sirens wail in the distance - a fitting soundtrack to our current moment of national uncertainty. The surge in antisemitic violence isn't just a Jewish issue or a security issue. It's an American issue that demands our immediate and sustained attention.