Dallas ICE facility shooting prompts security review as lawmakers condemn violence

A gunman using a bolt-action rifle opened fire from a rooftop onto a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Dallas on Wednesday, killing one detainee and wounding two others in a van entering the sallyport before taking his own life, authorities said. The suspect was identified by a law enforcement official as 29-year-old Joshua Jahn. The official spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity and could not publicly disclose more details about the investigation. The motive for the attack was not immediately clear.

The Department of Homeland Security said shots were fired “indiscriminately at the ICE building, including at a van in the sallyport.” DHS later said two detainees were killed and one was wounded, reversing an earlier casualty count, and officials noted that no ICE agents were injured. By evening, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem ordered heightened security at ICE facilities nationwide, citing concerns about threats to federal immigration enforcement personnel and sites.

The FBI said it was investigating the shooting as an act of targeted violence. Dallas police responded to the scene on North Stemmons Freeway around 6:40 a.m. after receiving a report of an active shooter. Investigators said the gunman opened fire from an adjacent building and that the assault occurred at a government facility that sits near Interstate 35 East, just southwest of Dallas Love Field. The gunman used a bolt-action rifle, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Witnesses described a sudden, terrifying scene. Edwin Cardona, a Venezuelan immigrant who had arrived at the ICE building with his son for an appointment, told AP he heard shots while nearby. He said an agent moved people inside to a more secure area and announced an active shooter situation. Cardona said he and his family were later reunited, expressing relief that they were not harmed. The incident prompted a large response from police and federal agents, and investigators collected shell casings and evidence at the scene.

As investigators pursued a clearer picture of the attack, authorities focused on who carried out the shooting and why. Hours after the incident, FBI agents gathered at a suburban Dallas home linked by public records to Jahn. The residence sat on a tree-lined cul-de-sac with police and FBI personnel present. Collin College in nearby McKinney later confirmed Jahn studied there at various times between 2013 and 2018. A Texas-based company, Solartime USA, confirmed Jahn worked for the firm for less than a few months several years ago.

In the hours after the shooting, political leaders and law-enforcement officials urged an end to political violence and expressed concern about threats to immigration officers and facilities. Vice President JD Vance posted on X that the country must stop the obsessive attack on law enforcement, particularly ICE. Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, who represents Texas, called for an end to political violence and told reporters to stop demonizing ICE and CPB. Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson called the incident an attack not only on law enforcement but on the community and the country’s tradition of civil discourse. The Catholic Legal Immigration Network said the shootings underscored the violence migrants face and called on policymakers to respond with dignity and safety for those involved in immigration proceedings.

Faith leaders who regularly rally outside the Dallas ICE facility said violence does not resolve disputes over immigration policy. The Rev. Ashley Anne Sipe, who prays outside the center each week, noted that migrants often travel to appointments and check-ins in vulnerable situations and urged nonviolence in any response.

Beyond the immediate incident, security experts have long warned that ICE facilities can present vulnerabilities. John Torres, a former acting director of ICE who now runs security and technology consulting, described loading areas for buses at some sites as potential escape points, and noted that nearby vantage points and large crowds can create risks for attackers or shooters. He said ICE will conduct comprehensive security assessments in the wake of Wednesday’s event and review how facilities are safeguarded against external threats.

The shooting arrives at a moment of heightened attention to immigration enforcement and political rhetoric surrounding the policy. Earlier this summer, authorities cited attacks on immigration facilities and officers as a sign of rising tensions. In the weeks prior, a high-profile shooting in another context and ongoing debates over border policy have heightened concerns about civil violence in the United States. Some communities and advocacy groups have urged policymakers to focus on protecting both public servants and vulnerable migrants, arguing that violence has ripple effects on families awaiting decisions in immigration proceedings.

The incident also drew attention to how ICE locations operate within shared spaces and how security is maintained at facilities that are not intended to hold detainees long-term. Officials compared such sites with detention centers and highlighted the importance of secure entry points, robust surveillance, and rapid response protocols to protect staff and detainees alike. As authorities pursue the investigation, colleagues and families of those at the facility expressed sorrow and resolve to ensure safety for all who interact with the system.

The Dallas shooting is part of a broader national conversation about violence, security at government facilities, and the pressures of immigration enforcement. It also underscores the ongoing need for clear lines of accountability and rapid, transparent communication from federal and local authorities when such events occur. The FBI, DHS, and local police said they would provide updates as investigations continue and more information becomes available. The agency responses and policy implications are likely to shape discussions among lawmakers and immigrant-rights advocates in the weeks ahead.

The HuffPost team updated this story to reflect a correction: Dallas police said the officer involved, Maner, has the first name Jonathan, not Jonathen. Authorities have stressed that the investigation remains ongoing and that authorities are reviewing security protocols at ICE facilities nationwide as part of the initial response to Wednesday’s attack.