Dallas ICE facility attack underscores growing violence against immigration enforcement
FBI says early evidence includes anti-ICE messages on shell casings; the Dallas shooting is part of a broader pattern of incidents at ICE facilities nationwide, authorities say.
A gunman opened fire Tuesday morning at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Dallas, authorities said, in what investigators described as an act of targeted violence. The suspect, identified by federal officials as 29-year-old Joshua Jahn, fired on the ICE field office and struck three detainees in an unmarked transport van before killing himself on a nearby rooftop, federal law enforcement officials said. The attack prompted a rapid law-enforcement response and heightened security around ICE facilities in several states.
Early evidence recovered at the scene includes shell casings with anti-ICE messages. FBI Dallas Field Office Special Agent in Charge Joseph Rothrock said rounds found near the suspect contained anti-ICE sentiment, and FBI Director Kash Patel posted a photo of shell casings with one visible inscription reading "ANTI-ICE." Investigators described this as important context as they examine motive and coordinate with federal prosecutors.
Officials noted that the Dallas incident is part of a broader pattern of anti-ICE violence at facilities and against agents across the country in recent years. Across the past year, ICE facilities have faced waves of protests, arson attempts, drive-by shootings, and arrests tied to protests that spilled into detention sites. In July 2025, an attack on an ICE facility in Alvarado, Texas left a local officer wounded; authorities later arrested about a dozen suspects on charges including terrorism and aggravated assault on federal officers. One of the alleged suspects, Benjamin Song, has been described by some accounts as associated with far-left protest movements and groups; Song faces multiple federal charges in connection with the case. The police and DHS have stressed that the investigation is ongoing and that federal prosecutors will pursue those responsible to the fullest extent of the law.
The year has also featured clashes at ICE facilities in other cities. In late June 2025, Portland, Ore., saw days of confrontations outside an ICE field office, with hundreds of demonstrators in the vicinity and several arrests reported as agents used tear gas and non-lethal munitions to restore order. DHS said at the time that authorities aimed to keep the facility secure while facilitating peaceful protest. Earlier in 2025, the city of Portland reported continued demonstrations that drew security challenges for federal agents stationed there. In July 2025, a Colorado Springs incident left Jose Mendez-Chavez, 31, and another man accused of attempting to ram ICE agents during an operation; a passenger in the vehicle was taken into custody. In Broadview, Ill., a larger protest outside an ICE processing center drew streams of protesters, with police declaring a distraction to public safety as authorities cordoned off the driveway.
The pattern extends back to prior years as well. In 2019, attacks on ICE facilities occurred during the early Trump administration, including a shooting at an ICE facility in San Antonio, Texas, where one bullet came within inches of striking a worker, according to FBI officials at the time. In Tacoma, Wash., in 2019, Willem van Spronsen attacked an ICE facility with Molotov cocktails and was shot and killed by law enforcement; his actions were described as an extremist act by some observers in the local Antifa movement. As authorities address today’s Dallas incident, investigators say they will continue to examine whether any links exist among these events, while pursuing all potential leads.
The FBI, DHS, and ICE have stressed that federal laws against violence targeting federal personnel apply with full force and that criminal actions against ICE staff are a top priority for prosecution. Officials have urged communities to report credible threats and any information that could shed light on motive and connections among incidents. The Dallas investigation is ongoing, with federal prosecutors reviewing evidence and coordinating with state and local authorities as they work to determine whether Jahn acted alone or as part of a larger network.
As investigators outline the sequence of events and collect additional evidence, federal agencies are expected to increase security measures at ICE facilities nationwide and review incident-response protocols. The case arrives amid a broader national conversation about the safety of law enforcement personnel who enforce immigration laws and the heated political rhetoric surrounding immigration policy. Officials say they will continue to monitor potential threats and work with partners to protect staff, facilities, and the surrounding communities.