NOTE: VIDEO at the end of the article.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced a sweeping effort to target individuals who have overstayed their visas in the United States, following a violent attack at a pro-Israel rally that officials say exposed serious gaps in immigration enforcement.
The attacker, identified as Mohamed Soliman, an Egyptian national who overstayed his visa in 2022, is accused of using a homemade flamethrower and firebombs during the incident. Authorities say Soliman shouted “Free Palestine!” while assaulting demonstrators who were calling for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. He now faces multiple charges, including state-level felonies and federal hate crime allegations.
The incident, which left several people injured, has prompted DHS to intensify its focus on visa overstays—an often-overlooked aspect of immigration policy. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem responded forcefully, saying, “There is no room in the United States for the rest of the world’s terrorist sympathizers. Anyone who thinks they can come to America and advocate for antisemitic violence and terrorism — think again.”
DHS confirmed that all three of its immigration-related agencies—ICE, CBP, and USCIS—will be coordinating a broad campaign to enhance screening, track visa holders more closely, and prioritize removal efforts for those who have remained in the U.S. beyond their authorized stay.
While much of the national conversation on immigration centers on illegal border crossings, visa overstays have long represented a significant enforcement challenge. Individuals who enter the country legally on temporary visas—for tourism, work, or education—but fail to leave once those visas expire, pose a unique monitoring issue for federal agencies.
Recent data from DHS underscores the magnitude of the problem. In fiscal year 2023, an estimated 565,000 individuals overstayed their temporary visas. While approximately 55,000 of them eventually departed the country, over 500,000 remained illegally. The overstay rate among students and exchange visitors reached nearly 4%.
Some countries recorded especially high overstay rates. More than 70% of student visa holders from Equatorial Guinea, 54% from Eritrea, and 40% from Burma failed to leave the U.S. as required. Even nations with lower rates, such as China, which had a 1% student visa overstay rate, still accounted for thousands of individuals—over 3,000 in China’s case.
DHS says its new policy direction will include increased visa monitoring, stricter follow-up processes, and coordination with educational institutions and employers. Officials argue that ensuring compliance with visa terms is a critical step in maintaining national security and restoring confidence in the immigration system.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3ODM40iPXk
