Dallas mayor warns rising political violence could mean ICE facility attack ‘won’t be the last’
Johnson links rhetoric to violence and urges leaders to confront the tone of immigration and policing debates
Authorities say a gunman opened fire at a Dallas facility housing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers on Sept. 24, 2025, killing one person and injuring two others before taking his own life. The attack occurred a short distance from Alvarado, Texas, where ICE officers were targeted in a separate incident in July, and investigators have begun reviewing evidence as they piece together a possible motive. Authorities identified the gunman as Joshua Jahn.
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, who has shifted from Democrat to Republican, told Fox News that a rising tolerance for political violence endangers public safety and could mean more attacks if rhetoric continues. He argued that leaders on the left have portrayed officers as antagonists and pointed to similar messaging in immigration debates as fueling hostility toward ICE. “So I think that confluence of events is leading to unfortunate events like yesterday, and if we don't do something about it, this won't be the last one,” Johnson said on America’s Newsroom.
Investigators identified the shooter as Joshua Jahn and said the gunman fired indiscriminately before taking his life. The shooting occurred amid a nationwide, often razor-edged debate over immigration enforcement and political rhetoric. The Department of Homeland Security has warned that political rhetoric has contributed to an increase in assaults on ICE agents as tensions over immigration policy have intensified.
Several prominent Democrats have criticized the Trump administration's immigration enforcement approach, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who have argued immigration policy has sometimes been pursued in ways that strain ethical norms or public trust.
Johnson urged city and federal leaders to confront the rhetoric fueling hostility toward law enforcement before more lives are lost. “If we don’t do something about it, this won’t be the last one,” he said, urging calm, accountability and a de-escalation of inflammatory language as investigations continue.
The incident comes as authorities scrutinize security protocols at ICE facilities and as political leaders on both sides of the aisle weigh in on how best to balance immigration enforcement with civil rights and public safety. The investigation remains active, and officials have not released additional details about the suspect’s background or a possible motive. The case has intensified a national conversation about political rhetoric, violence, and the protections afforded to federal law enforcement personnel.