Sniper Attacks ICE Office in Dallas, Kills One, Injures Two

A horrifying sniper attack shook a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in Dallas, Texas, early Wednesday morning, leaving one immigrant detainee dead and two others fighting for their lives. The shooter, 29-year-old Joshua Jahn, opened fire from a nearby rooftop, targeting a van carrying detainees at the facility.

Jahn took his own life with a gunshot shortly after the attack, which officials are calling an act of domestic terrorism driven by anti-ICE beliefs. This tragedy has sparked fear, outrage, and heated debates across the country about immigration, law enforcement, and political violence.

The shooting happened around 6:40 a.m. at the ICE Dallas Field Office on North Stemmons Freeway, a place where immigrants are briefly held for processing after being arrested. Jahn used a rifle to fire multiple shots, hitting both the building and a transport van in a secured area called a sallyport. One detainee in the van was killed instantly, and two others were critically injured. One of the injured is a Mexican national, but officials haven’t released the victims’ names yet as they work to notify families. Early reports from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) mistakenly said two people died, but they later corrected it to one death and two injuries. Thankfully, no ICE agents or police officers were hurt.

The FBI, Dallas Police Department, and ICE quickly locked down the area, ensuring no further danger to the public. Investigators found something chilling at the scene: unspent bullet casings near Jahn’s body with “ANTI-ICE” written on them in black marker. FBI Director Kash Patel called this a clear sign of an “ideological motive” tied to hatred for ICE’s work in enforcing immigration laws. Jahn, who lived in the Texas-Oklahoma area and was a registered independent voter, didn’t have a major criminal record—just a marijuana delivery charge from about 10 years ago. His family told police they had no idea he held strong anti-ICE views, leaving many questions about what drove him to this extreme act.

This attack is the latest in a string of violent incidents targeting immigration facilities in Texas. It’s the fourth reported attack or threat on ICE or Border Patrol sites in the state this year, including a July 7 shooting at a Border Patrol facility in McAllen, where the shooter was killed by police, and a July 4 attack on the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, where 10 people were charged with attempted murder. The Dallas shooting also comes just two weeks after the shocking sniper assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah on September 10, 2025. These events have many Americans worried that political violence is spiraling out of control.

The news has set off a firestorm of reactions from political leaders. President Donald Trump condemned the attack, pointing the finger at “Deranged Radical Leftists” and “radical left Democrats” who he says have demonized ICE and fueled this kind of violence with calls to abolish the agency. He announced he’s working on an executive order to crack down on “Domestic Terrorism Networks” like ANTIFA, though he didn’t provide evidence directly linking the group to Jahn’s actions. Vice President JD Vance called the shooting an “obsessive attack on law enforcement” driven by dangerous rhetoric. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem described it as “unprecedented violence” against ICE, emphasizing that the shooter seemed intent on harming detainees to make a point. Texas Senator Ted Cruz called for an end to extreme language, like comparing ICE agents to “Nazis,” which some activists have done.

On the other side, Latino advocacy groups expressed deep concern about the growing fear in immigrant communities. They point to the second Trump administration’s aggressive immigration policies, including a big boost in ICE funding, as making immigrants feel like targets. Deportations have surged in 2025, sparking protests and a sharp drop in public support for ICE. Some voices on X have even questioned the official story, with one user claiming—without proof—that the “ANTI-ICE” markings on the casings were faked by the FBI. This shows how much distrust is swirling around this incident.

The attack has put a spotlight on the deep divide over immigration in America. ICE, which handles deportations and detains immigrants, has become a lightning rod for criticism. Some progressive leaders, like California Governor Gavin Newsom and Dallas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, have spoken out against ICE’s methods, with conservatives now arguing their words might inspire attacks like this one. Newsom has called ICE’s tactics “inhumane,” while Crockett has pushed for reforms to protect immigrant rights. Conservative outlets like Breitbart have accused them of stirring up violence, though no direct link to Jahn has been proven.

The FBI’s Dallas Special Agent Joe Rothrock called the attack “coordinated,” suggesting it fits into a broader wave of targeted violence against federal immigration sites. Investigators are still digging into Jahn’s background, looking for any manifesto or clues about his motives, but nothing has been released yet. They’re treating this as a domestic terrorism case, and the public is being asked to stay away from the ICE facility while the investigation continues.

For many Americans, this tragedy is a grim reminder of how polarized the country has become. The debate over immigration—already a hot-button issue—has taken a deadly turn, with innocent detainees caught in the crossfire. The victims’ families are grieving, and the nation is left grappling with tough questions: How did we get here? And how can we stop this kind of violence from happening again? As the investigation unfolds, officials are urging people to stay calm and avoid spreading unverified rumors. For the latest updates, keep an eye on statements from the FBI, DHS, or Dallas Police Department.

This attack isn’t just a local story—it’s a wake-up call for all Americans about the dangers of division and extremism. The road ahead will require tough conversations about immigration, law enforcement, and how to keep communities safe without tearing each other apart.