A tragic shooting incident unfolded at a Dallas Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility early Wednesday morning, resulting in one detainee dead and two others critically injured.
The suspected gunman, identified as Joshua Jahn, 29, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound as law enforcement approached the scene. Authorities report his parents reside in Fairview, just north of Dallas, while Jahn’s last known address is in Durant, Oklahoma.
The incident occurred around 6:40 a.m. CDT, near Dallas Love Field airport. According to the Dallas Police Department, the shooting was carried out by a sniper positioned on a nearby roof who used a rifle to target the ICE facility.
One of the victims was pronounced dead at the scene, while two others were transported to the hospital with serious injuries from gunshot wounds.
Law enforcement officials discovered rounds near the shooter that had anti-ICE messages scribbled on them, with one round clearly marked “ANTI-ICE.” The investigation continues to determine whether additional shooters were involved.
President Donald Trump shared his condemnation of the shooting on Truth Social approximately ten hours after it occurred. He denounced the shooter’s actions, referencing the messages found on the shell casings.
“This is despicable! The Brave Men and Women of ICE are just trying to do their jobs, and remove the ‘WORST of the WORST’ Criminals out of our Country,” Trump stated. He further implicated the rhetoric from the Radical Left as a motivating factor behind the violence, criticizing politicians who advocate for the disbanding of ICE and compare its officers to Nazis.
Trump announced that he intends to sign an Executive Order aimed at dismantling what he termed “Domestic Terrorism Networks” in the aftermath of the incident. He called on all Democrats to cease their rhetoric against ICE and law enforcement at large.
In response to the shooting, Vice President JD Vance criticized political figures and left-leaning media for their perceived role in encouraging violence against law enforcement.
“When the left-wing media lies about what [ICE is] doing, what they’re doing is encouraging crazy people to go and commit violence,” Vance said. He emphasized that regardless of differing opinions on immigration policy, those advocating violence against law enforcement should be held accountable.
Rep. Marc Veasey, a Democrat representing the Texas district where the ICE facility is located, expressed disapproval of the immediate political responses from Republicans.
In a post on X, Veasey highlighted the exploitation of the tragedy for political gain as shameful. He called for a moment of unity in grieving rather than deepening divisions, stating, “Now is the time to meet this moment with unity, compassion, and steady leadership.”
The shooting occurred as detainees were boarding a bus to Laredo and ultimately to Mexico, according to local immigration attorney Fernando Dubove. Dubove speculated that the assailant was familiar with the facility’s daily routines, which may have facilitated his attack.
Todd Lyons, the acting director of ICE, confirmed that none of the injured individuals were law enforcement officials, emphasizing that no ICE officers sustained injuries during the shooting.
Local and federal leaders noted the increase in threats and violence directed at immigration officials, coinciding with rising raids and arrests. To manage the situation, local police implemented traffic shutdowns on parts of Interstate 35E during the rush hour following the shooting.
“This incident is being investigated as an act of targeted violence,” stated Special Agent in Charge Joe Rothrock.
FBI Director Kash Patel shared images of the rounds discovered at the scene, denouncing the politically motivated attacks against law enforcement as a troubling trend.
“We are only miles from Prarieland, Texas, where just two months ago an individual ambushed a separate ICE facility targeting their officers. It has to end, and the FBI and our partners will lead these investigative efforts,” Patel wrote.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott reiterated that the assassination would not disrupt ongoing efforts to arrest, detain, and deport illegal immigrants. Furthermore, he referred to the shooting as an assault against federal enforcement, underscoring the severity of the situation: “This is unacceptable. An attack against ICE is an attack against our country itself.”
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton also condemned the attack, calling for prayers for the victims of the “heinous” incident and promised to combat the alarming trend of targeted assaults against ICE and law enforcement.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem echoed the sentiments of Paxton, urging an end to the violence against ICE personnel and calling for empathy.
“Like everyone else, we just want to go home to our families at night. The violence and dehumanization of these men and women who are simply enforcing the law must stop,” she voiced in her statement.
Witness accounts from the scene described the chaotic moments during the shooting. Shane Reynolds, who was accompanying a man to an immigration hearing, recounted his experience waiting outside when he heard multiple gunshots erupt.
“Running out into the open parking lot just seemed like a bad idea,” he reflected. After hearing the gunfire, he expressed his immediate need to assess the situation, recalling the fear and uncertainty in those moments.
This incident occurs amidst a backdrop of heightened tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in the United States and reflects broader societal divides over this contentious issue.
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