29-year-old Texas man Joshua Jahn carried out a deadly attack at a Dallas Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility, leaving two immigration detainees dead and one critically injured. The shooting unfolded just before 7 a.m. in the sallyport area, where detainees were boarding an unmarked van. Jahn, positioned on a rooftop 500 feet away, fired multiple rounds before taking his own life, authorities confirmed.
Federal officials identified Jahn as the lone gunman, with unspent bullet casings at the scene engraved with “ANTI ICE”, signalling an ideological motive. The FBI, alongside the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Dallas Police, is investigating the incident as targeted violence against ICE.
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons emphasised that the attack was directed at the agency’s operations, though no agents were harmed. This marks a troubling escalation in violence against immigration enforcement, following a similar ambush at a Prairieland, Texas, ICE facility two months prior.
Jahn, a North Texas native from Allen, had ties to Fairview and Durant, Oklahoma. Public records reveal a 2016 felony conviction for delivering marijuana, resulting in a $3,500 fine.
His brother, Noah Jahn, expressed shock, claiming Joshua showed no strong political leanings or hatred toward ICE. “He wasn’t a marksman,” Noah told reporters, questioning his brother’s ability to execute such an attack. Voter records indicate Jahn was a registered independent who last voted in the 2024 general election.
The attack has sparked condemnation from officials. Texas Senator Ted Cruz called it “politically motivated violence”, urging an end to anti-ICE rhetoric. Governor Greg Abbott labelled it an “assassination”, vowing unwavering support for ICE’s deportation efforts.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem echoed concerns, suggesting inflammatory rhetoric fuels such acts. The FBI noted a disturbing map of “radioactive fallout” taped to Jahn’s car, though its significance remains unclear.
Investigators are probing Jahn’s social media and potential ties to prior threats, including a bomb threat at the same facility in August. Neighbours in Fairview reported FBI activity at a home linked to Jahn’s family, underscoring the ongoing search for answers.
The Dallas ICE office, located near I-35E, processes detainees before transfer to long-term facilities. As the community reels, authorities continue to unravel the motives behind this tragic act of violence.