The fatal shooting at an ICE field office in Dallas last week was the latest in a series of such threats and violence.
On Wednesday, the shooter, now identified as Joshua Jahn, shot at the ICE Dallas field office and at a nearby van. The bullets struck three ICE detainees, killing one and injuring the others.
Jahn, 29, took his own life after the shooting, which looked to be motivated by hatred for ICE and the government, authorities said.
Jahn had written “anti-ICE” messages on bullet casings, as well as leaving multiple notes and papers in his house, with some of the messages saying, “I want to cause terror,” and referring to ICE agents as “people showing up to collect a dirty paycheck.”
Kristi Noem, the secretary of Homeland Security, on Wednesday said, “Our prayers are with the families of those killed and our ICE law enforcement. This vile attack was motivated by hatred for ICE.” She criticized what she called an anti-ICE narrative from those on the “far left.”
“This shooting must serve as a wake-up call to the far-left that their rhetoric about ICE has consequences,” Noem said. “Comparing ICE day in and day out to the Nazi Gestapo, the Secret Police, and slave patrols has consequences.”
This was the second incident at this ICE facility. Last month, a suspect went to the Dallas-based field office, claiming to have a bomb in his backpack.
Furthermore, a police officer was shot in the neck on July 4 in a planned ambush at a Texas immigration detention center, with 10 people in custody related to the shooting.
With all of these cases of violence against ICE and law enforcement, it is vital to remember that all of these agents and officers are human beings with families who are simply trying to do their jobs.