On Wednesday, a shootout occurred at a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Dallas, where a gunman armed with a rifle killed one detainee and critically injured two more before killing himself. Alongside the deceased, authorities discovered spent ammunition engraved with the slogan “ANTI-ICE.” The incident is currently being investigated by the FBI as a possible act of targeted violence.
This happens amidst tensions over US President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, which include the deportation of not only undocumented immigrants but also legal migrants who have voiced dissension. It also follows the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk two weeks ago, an event that prompted a pledge from Trump to take action against what he termed left-wing radicals.
Here’s an overview of the situation:
The Incident
The shooting unfolded early on Wednesday, September 24th when police received a call about 6:40am local time (11:40 GMT). The attackers, described as sniper-like, fired at the ICE facility from a nearby rooftop, wounding four individuals total, including a detainee who succumbed to their injuries and two others who are in critical condition.
ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan reported that bullets had penetrated the facility extensively. No police personnel were injured during the incident.
The suspect was identified as Joshua Jahn, a 29-year-old man from a Dallas suburb. Jahn had a prior conviction for marijuana possession but did not display any known animosity towards ICE prior to the attack. After the shooting, Jahn took his own life, and his remains were found near the facility.
ICE and its Role
ICE is a government agency under the Department of Homeland Security, responsible for enforcing immigration law, which includes apprehending and deporting undocumented individuals, and tackling crimes such as human trafficking. The agency has been in the spotlight for their tactics and policies, especially under the Trump administration, which has seen an increase in assaults against ICE enforcement officers.
Location of the Shooting
The shooting took place at the ICE field office in Dallas, which is also responsible for operations in Oklahoma. This is not the first security incident at the location; in August, an individual claiming to have a bomb was detained.
Victims’ Information
The identities of the victims have not been disclosed; they were all undocumented immigrants awaiting transfer to a longer-term facility. One of the injured is a Mexican national, who is now in the hospital with severe injuries.
Responses to the Shooting
President Trump addressed the incident, labeling the attacker as deranged and the “Anti-ICE”message as despicable. He denounced rhetoric critical of ICE and immigration enforcement. Vice President JD Vance also suggested a connection to political rhetoric, while California Governor Gavin Newsom refuted the allegation. Senator Ted Cruz called for unity and away from demonizing political opponents.
The shooting’s aftermath has reignited the debate about rhetoric and violence, with some officials advocating for civility and others attributing the incident to broader political divisions.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/25/who-is-joshua-jahn-what-we-know-about-the-dallas-ice-facility-shooting?traffic_source=rss
