An attack on a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Dallas Wednesday morning left three detainees shot, with two confirmed dead and a third in critical condition. A sniper on a nearby roof, armed with a rifle, fired into an unmarked ICE van transporting detainees, Fox 4 Dallas reported.
The suspect died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head as officers approached, according to police. Investigators said they believe they have identified the shooter, a white male, but are still working to confirm the information before releasing it to the public.
The FBI is investigating the shooting as “an act of targeted violence” from the anti-ICE left.
“It is unfortunately just the latest example we’ve seen of targeted violence,” said Dallas FBI field Division spokesman Joseph Rothrock. “The early evidence that we’ve seen from rounds that were near the shooter contained messages that were anti-ICE in nature. Again, this is just the most recent example of this type of attack,” Rothrock added.
Dallas police said in a statement that they responded to a call regarding the shooting at around 6:40 a.m.
Police said the suspect had opened fire at the van from a nearby building. The identities of the victims have not yet been identified.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement: “There was a shooting this morning at the Dallas @ICEgov Detention Facility. Details are still emerging but we can confirm there were multiple injuries and fatalities. The shooter is deceased by a self-inflicted gun shot wound. While we don’t know motive yet, we know that our ICE law enforcement is facing unprecedented violence against them. It must stop. Please pray for the victims and their families.”
Texas Governor Greg Abbott said the state fully supports ICE and that the shooting would not slow arrests, detentions, or the deportation of illegal immigrants.
“Texas fully supports ICE ????” Abbott posted on X. “Both the Texas Dept. of Public Safety & Texas National Guard work closely with ICE. This assassination will NOT slow our arrest, detention, & deportation of illegal immigrants.”
The governor added: “We will work with ICE & the Dallas Police Dept. to get to the bottom of the assassin’s motive. We will offer ICE additional support to assist their operations.”
Vice President J.D. Vance also weighed in on X: “The obsessive attack on law enforcement, particularly ICE, must stop. I’m praying for everyone hurt in this attack and for their families,” Vance said.
“Join me in praying for the victims of this heinous shooting,” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton posted on X. “We will continue to do everything in our power to combat the alarming increase of targeted attacks against ICE and all law enforcement by evil, twisted individuals.”
“ICE law enforcement has seen a 1000 percent increase in assaults against them as they carry out enforcement operations,” DHS said in a statement earlier this month.
California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) earlier this week signed legislation banning the use of face coverings by ICE agents and local law enforcement agents, opening them up to being doxed, threatened, and harassed.
The Trump administration says California’s mask ban is unconstitutional and has made clear that it will not be complying it.
“At a time that ICE law enforcement faces a 1,000% increase in assaults and their family members are being doxxed and targeted, the sitting Governor of California signed unconstitutional legislation that strips law enforcement of protections in a disgusting, diabolical fundraising and PR stunt,” DHS said in a statement Monday.
Newsom described the Trump administration’s deportation effort as “authoritarian” during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel’s late night show Tuesday.
“That’s happening in the United States of America, Newsom fumed. “Masked men jumping out of unmarked cars, people disappearing, no due process, no oversight, zero accountability!”
Kimmel was back on the air last night after a short suspension for misleading his audience about the Charlie Kirk assassination.
Local officials held a press conference on the shooting, Wednesday morning.
Acting Dallas ICE Field Office Director Joshua Johnson said the left’s anti-ICE rhetoric “has to stop.”
“There are people out there who are seeing what is placed online and they’re coming and doing acts of violence against ICE employees,” he added. “It’s just gotta stop. It’s dangerous and people are losing their lives.”