Dallas ICE Facility Shooting: One Detainee Killed, Two Critically Injured

Published: September 25, 2025, 13:00 EDT

A deadly shooting unfolded outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office in Dallas on Wednesday morning. Authorities say a gunman opened fire from a nearby rooftop, killing one detainee and critically wounding two others before turning the weapon on himself. Officials described the incident as an “indiscriminate attack” on ICE.

Identities of Victims Remain Withheld

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that all three victims were detainees waiting in a transport van outside the facility. Their names and backgrounds have not yet been released.

Mexico’s Foreign Ministry reported that one of the wounded victims is a Mexican national, now hospitalized with severe injuries. Officials have contacted the individual’s family to provide legal and consular support.

Initially, DHS stated that two detainees were killed, but it later corrected the record, confirming one death and two critical injuries. No law enforcement officers were harmed in the incident.

Suspect Identified as 29-Year-Old Texas Resident

Authorities identified the gunman as 29-year-old Joshua Jahn. Law enforcement officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to the Associated Press, confirmed his identity but withheld further investigative details.

FBI agents were later seen at a Dallas-area residence linked to Jahn. According to public records and acquaintances, Jahn had a history of unstable employment and legal troubles.

Ryan Sanderson, a cannabis farm owner in Washington, told the AP that Jahn briefly worked for him in 2017 while living in his car. “He was lost, and I didn’t expect him to be crazy,” Sanderson recalled. “He didn’t seem abnormal or violent, just quiet and focused on working.”

Court records show Jahn pleaded guilty in 2016 to felony charges related to marijuana delivery in Collin County, Texas. He served a five-year probation sentence.

Investigators confirmed that Jahn used a bolt-action rifle during the attack.

Motive Under Investigation

While officials have not announced a clear motive, evidence collected at the scene suggests anti-ICE sentiment played a role. Ammunition recovered bore the words “ANTI-ICE,” according to DHS officials. Photos released by DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin also showed bullet holes in windows and damage to a display case holding an American flag inside the facility.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem condemned the shooting, calling it “a vile attack motivated by hatred for ICE.”

Political reactions quickly followed. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) said this was the third attack against immigration enforcement in Texas in recent months, warning that heated rhetoric against federal immigration agencies could incite violence. “To every politician who is using rhetoric demonizing ICE and CBP: Stop,” Cruz urged during a press conference.

Democrats, however, criticized Republicans for shaping the narrative around ICE rather than focusing on detainees who were victims. Representative Marc Veasey (D-TX) expressed frustration in an interview with Dallas station WFAA-TV, saying, “If they are trying to control this narrative and they don’t want migrants to be the victim in this story, then they may slow-walk giving us any information about this.”

Location of the Attack

The shooting occurred outside the Dallas ICE field office, located just off Interstate 35 East near Dallas Love Field Airport. The facility primarily handles short-term processing of individuals in ICE custody.

Witnesses reported a heavy law enforcement presence after the shooting. Later in the day, a white van from the Dallas County medical examiner’s office removed Jahn’s body from the rooftop where the shots originated.

Recent Attacks on ICE and Border Patrol Facilities

The Dallas shooting adds to a troubling series of recent violent incidents targeting immigration enforcement in Texas.

• July 4 Incident: Armed attackers in military-style clothing opened fire outside the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, southwest of Dallas. A police officer was injured, and federal prosecutors have since charged at least 11 individuals in connection with the attack.

• July 7 Incident: In McAllen, near the U.S.-Mexico border, a man later identified as Ryan Louis Mosqueda fired multiple rounds at Border Patrol agents as they exited a facility. A police officer was injured before authorities shot and killed the gunman. Additional weapons and ammunition were later found in his car.

National Security Response

In response to the Dallas attack, DHS Secretary Noem ordered an immediate increase in security at ICE facilities nationwide. “The safety of both our employees and those in our custody is paramount,” she said in a statement.

The FBI continues to lead the investigation, with support from local Dallas police and DHS officials. Authorities have not released a timeline for when additional details about the victims or suspect may be made public.

Source: AP News – What to know about the shooting at a Dallas immigration facility