Dallas woke up to tragedy on September 24, 2025. A gunman climbed onto a rooftop and opened fire on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office. Three detainees were hit, and at least one died. The shooter then turned the gun on himself and didn’t survive.
Investigators say this wasn’t random. They believe the attack was planned and directed at ICE officers. Now, federal, state, and local officials are digging for answers, trying to figure out why this happened and whether anyone else was involved.
Who Was Behind the Gun?
Authorities identified the shooter as 29-year-old Joshua Jahn. He didn’t just lash out in the heat of the moment. Police say he etched anti-ICE slogans onto his bullets, making his motive clear. That’s why investigators are treating this as more than just another crime — it looks like an ideologically driven attack.
Officers searched two homes tied to Jahn — one in Fairview, Texas, and another in Durant, Oklahoma. They’re going through computers, phones, and personal records to learn what pushed him to do this and if he had help.
How the Attack Happened
Officials say Jahn fired “indiscriminately” from the roof. He hit the ICE building, broke through windows and lobby walls, and fired into a van transporting detainees. One of those detainees lost their life. Two more are fighting to recover in the hospital.
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said this was more than an attack on detainees — it was a direct strike on law enforcement itself. He warned that bullets could have hit lawyers, visitors, or even drivers on Interstate 35, which runs close to the facility. (MORE NEWS: Utah Arrests: Explosive Device Found Under Fox News Vehicle)
Lyons spoke with Fox News’ Martha MacCallum:
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons: “The ICE facility itself was a target… He was just firing at ICE vehicles… It wasn’t directed at the detainees.. wasn’t directed at civilians on the street. It was a definite attack on law enforcement. He was there to attack that building.”… pic.twitter.com/nhPiQcp2wt
— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) September 24, 2025
Political Firestorm
The shooting immediately sparked political reaction. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the attack was “deliberate” and warned that heated rhetoric aimed at ICE officers is dangerous. She called out comparisons that paint ICE agents as secret police, saying that kind of language makes them targets.
For months, we’ve been warning politicians and the media to tone down their rhetoric about ICE law enforcement before someone was killed.
These horrendous killings must serve as a wake-up call to the far-left that their rhetoric about ICE has consequences. Comparing ICE Day-in…
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) September 24, 2025
President Trump went even further. He blamed “Radical Left Democrats” for fueling anti-ICE hatred and promised an executive order to crack down on domestic terrorism groups. He pointed to the messages written on Jahn’s bullets as proof the shooting was politically charged.
Texas Senator Ted Cruz agreed, saying this is the third shooting in Texas directed at ICE or CBP:
This needs to stop.
Politicians using rhetoric that demonizes ICE and CBP need to stop. pic.twitter.com/NlcePjtD4Q
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) September 24, 2025
Dallas Responds
Closer to home, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson urged the city to pray for our nation and for the city of Dallas. He said that believes in the power of prayer and that prayer changes things.
Republican Mayor of Dallas Eric Johnson opened the press conference on the ICE facility shooting with a powerful call to prayer.
In a moment when Democrats are demonizing faith, he doubled down.
“Let me just start off by saying that I’m a person who believes very, very strongly… pic.twitter.com/Wm3wupTCHk
— Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) September 24, 2025
Police sealed off streets around the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building and worked with federal agents to sweep the area for evidence. Tensions ran high, but local leaders stressed the need for level heads and cooperation. (MORE NEWS: Kilmar Abrego Garcia and the Deep Immigration Divide)
Bigger Pattern of Violence
Sadly, this isn’t the first time ICE has faced violence. Over the last year, threats against immigration facilities and border agents have been on the rise. Experts warn that when public debate turns toxic, it can encourage unstable individuals to lash out.
Border Czar Tom Homan weighs in on the Charlie Kirk Show:
.@RealTomHoman: This morning, a gunman was targeting an ICE facility in Dallas, Texas… it’s the third shooting that’s occurred in Texas against immigration officials… This is clearly a targeted attack against ICE. pic.twitter.com/c0aQ2EsHAr
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 24, 2025
The Dallas field office wasn’t built for long-term detention. It’s mainly a holding and processing center. ICE rules say detainees should not be kept there for more than 12 hours. But its busy role, combined with its location near major roads, makes it especially vulnerable. It isn’t just agents at risk. Civilians, lawyers, and visitors are all exposed if someone decides to attack.
What Happens Next
Investigators now have several big questions to answer. They’re combing through Jahn’s digital trail to see what groups he followed or talked to online. They’re reviewing his travel, finances, and social connections. And they’re asking whether he radicalized quickly or if this had been building for years.
At the same time, ICE and DHS are looking hard at their security. Do facilities need better barriers? More surveillance? Stronger partnerships with local police? Those decisions could come soon.
The political side won’t cool off either. Republicans are pressing for stronger protections for ICE officers. Democrats are trying to strike a balance, condemning violence while still debating immigration policy. What everyone agrees on is this: nobody wants to see another day like this.
A Community Left to Heal
Dallas is now dealing with both grief and fear. Families of the victims are facing unimaginable loss. ICE employees are shaken, knowing they were directly in the crosshairs. And an already divided nation is once again reminded of how dangerous it is when political anger crosses into violence.
This attack wasn’t just about one man with a gun. It was about a system under pressure, a political climate full of rage, and a country struggling to draw lines between debate and danger.
Final Word
The Dallas ICE shooting shows what happens when words fuel hate and hate turns into action. It shook a city, cost innocent lives, and reignited national arguments about immigration, law enforcement, and political responsibility.
The big question now is how America responds. Will leaders on both sides dial down the rhetoric? Or will the cycle continue until another tragedy strikes?
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