A tragic shooting occurred at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Dallas on Wednesday morning. The incident resulted in the deaths of two detainees and left another injured. Reports indicate that the shooter, whose identity has not yet been revealed, began firing at a nearby government building before turning the gun on himself.
Joseph Rothrock, the FBI Special Agent in Charge for Dallas, held a press conference where he shared that agents discovered ammunition with messages opposing ICE near the shooter. One bullet casing was found with the phrase “ANTI-ICE” engraved on it. This suggests that the attack was motivated by an ideological stance against the agency.
Rothrock emphasized that the investigation is still ongoing, but initial findings indicate a clear motive behind the violence. FBI Director Kash Patel also commented on the situation, stating that this kind of politically charged violence against law enforcement is becoming more frequent. He referenced a similar incident just a few months prior, where another ICE facility in Texas was ambushed.
All victims in this latest shooting were ICE detainees, and fortunately, no law enforcement officers were harmed during the attack. Acting Dallas ICE field office director Joshua Johnson urged for a halt to the inflammatory rhetoric that may incite violence against ICE personnel. He stressed the dangers of such discourse, noting that it can lead to tragic outcomes.
This shooting is not an isolated event. Earlier this year, an ICE facility in Alvarado, Texas, was targeted by a group of individuals who used fireworks to lure officers outside before opening fire. In another incident in August, a man threatened an ICE facility in Dallas while claiming to have a bomb, leading to a lockdown.
As this story develops, officials continue to investigate the circumstances and motives behind these violent acts. The community is left grappling with the implications of such attacks and the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement.
