Newsom silent on anti-ICE rhetoric after Dallas shooting as he promotes state crackdown

California Gov. Gavin Newsom was pressed Wednesday on whether his anti-ICE rhetoric and a Democrat-led state law prohibiting law enforcement from concealing their identities during official operations have contributed to threats and violence, in the wake of a Dallas shooting at the Sally Port of a Dallas ICE facility. Police said at least two detainees were killed, and investigators cited the possibility that the ammunition used bore anti-ICE messages. Moments before the attack, Newsom appeared on CBS’ Late Show to criticize President Donald Trump and his mass deportation strategy, a perch that underscored the ongoing political fight over immigration policy.

Newsom’s spokeswoman, Diana Crofts-Pelayo, responded that violence is never the answer and that the administration condemns what happened in Texas this morning. The incident prompted a swift wave of cross‑party reactions, including calls from Republicans to temper rhetoric around immigration enforcement. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and other conservative voices, along with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., argued that inflammatory rhetoric can fuel violence against Homeland Security agents.

Newsom has been a persistent critic of federal immigration enforcement tactics under the Trump administration, while also advocating for First Amendment protections to allow criticism of government policy. On the topic of the new state law signed last weekend that bans law enforcement from masking their identities or using other means to obscure who they are during operations, Newsom framed the measure as a check on what he described as overreach by federal authorities. During a recent press conference announcing the state’s identity ban for officers, he pressed the point that when officers must be recognized they are held to higher standards of accountability, while noting that public safety and transparency can coexist.

The Dallas shooting has intensified scrutiny of the rhetoric surrounding immigration enforcement. Newsom’s supporters argue that he has consistently called for peaceful debate and due process, while critics say his framing of immigration policy contributes to a climate in which agents are seen as targets. The controversy comes amid broader Democratic debates over how aggressively to challenge federal policies while preserving civil liberties.

Newsom had previously criticized Trump and the Department of Homeland Security over what he labeled federal overreach during a summer of immigration raids in California and Los Angeles. The administration of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has echoed some of Newsom’s criticisms of federal enforcement, with local officials arguing that federal tactics have not always prioritized due process. In a separate comment from Chicago, Johnson compared the national climate under Trump to a historical reckoning, saying the U.S. appearance under that administration resembled a political victory by the Confederacy. The remarks illustrate how the national conversation over immigration enforcement remains deeply polarized among elected leaders across the country.

Ahead of the shooting, Newsom’s rhetoric and a high-profile domestic policy measure highlighted a broader Democratic strategy that blends criticism of federal policy with state-led efforts to increase transparency and accountability in policing. While the investigation in Dallas continues, political allies and opponents alike are watching closely how such rhetoric affects public safety, political discourse, and the balance between free speech and accountability in law enforcement operations.