Dallas ICE shooting prompts nationwide security push at immigration facilities
After an attack on a Dallas ICE site, DHS orders higher security at field offices as investigators probe the shooter’s motive and threats against federal immigration officers.
The Department of Homeland Security said Friday it will boost security at ICE field offices across the United States after a gunman opened fire Wednesday at a Dallas ICE facility, killing one detainee and wounding two others before killing himself. The FBI later said a bullet bearing the words ANTI-ICE was recovered at the scene, and agents are examining notes and electronic devices recovered from the suspect’s belongings and residence.
The shooting occurred on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, when Joshua Jahn allegedly fired from a rooftop at the Prairieland Detention Facility and targeted a van where detainees and officers were nearby, according to DHS and law enforcement statements. Jahn then killed himself after the assault, authorities said. FBI Director Kash Patel said on X that the bureau and FBI headquarters were working around the clock to seize devices, examine data, and process writings found at the location and in the suspect’s rooms. One handwritten note recovered reportedly asked if there was a sniper with armor-piercing rounds on the roof.
In announcing the security increase, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin cited a sharp rise in threats and assaults against ICE personnel, saying officers have faced a more than 1,000% uptick in assaults as officials confront a wave of anti-ICE rhetoric and violent incidents. She added that the department would begin coordinating with local and federal partners to heighten protective measures for officers, detainees, and visitors at facilities nationwide, and that the agency would not tolerate violence against federal workers.
Conservative immigration-policy advocates welcomed the security move as a necessary step but warned against any implication that rhetoric alone drives violence. Jessica M. Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies, told Fox News Digital that while the shooter is responsible for the act, political rhetoric surrounding immigration enforcement can contribute to a dangerous environment for officers. RJ Hauman, a Dallas-based visiting fellow at The Heritage Foundation’s Border Security and Immigration Center, said ICE agents and staff face escalating threats simply for enforcing the law, and that strengthening security is the right move to protect people who enforce immigration laws.
The FBI said investigators are pursuing multiple lines of inquiry, including reviewing the shooter’s writings and electronic devices for possible inspiration or planning. Patel’s post on X emphasized the ongoing effort to process material from the scene and the suspect’s residence, underscoring how authorities are attempting to map the incident within a broader pattern of violence against ICE personnel. The department also noted that authorities are assessing all security protocols at facilities nationwide in light of the attack.
Beyond the immediate security concerns, the Dallas shooting drew attention to the broader set of challenges facing ICE amid high-profile immigration enforcement actions and protests around the country. Mexican officials expressed concern over rising violence linked to enforcement activity and online harassment of ICE personnel, a theme that officials say underscores the real-world consequences of anti-ICE rhetoric.
Images from the scene show investigators sweeping the rooftop and nearby entrances as they collected evidence and secured the area around the detention facility. Federal authorities said they will continue to provide updates as the investigation proceeds and as additional security measures are implemented at ICE offices nationwide.
The incident marks a troubling escalation in threats against federal immigration officers, prompting officials to reaffirm their commitment to protecting staff while continuing to enforce immigration laws. As the FBI and DHS pursue every lead, lawmakers are expected to scrutinize how political rhetoric and media coverage surrounding ICE are shaping the security environment for federal law enforcement personnel across the country.
As investigators work to piece together the timeline and motives, officials said the focus remains on protecting the workforce and the individuals in ICE custody, while continuing the nationwide review of facility security protocols in response to the Dallas attack. A second image from the scene shows investigators on the roof and surrounding streets as they gather evidence and secure the area around the Dallas ICE facility.
