A detainee has died and two others are critically injured after a rooftop sniper opened fire at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) centre in Dallas, Texas, officials say.
The gunman fired indiscriminately at the ICE facility and at a nearby unmarked van, law enforcement officials say, before dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
No law enforcement were injured. FBI Director Kash Patel posted a photo on social media of unused ammunition recovered from the scene, one casing bearing the phrase ANTI-ICE.
This attack is part of a troubling trend of violence against ICE facilities as the agency intensifies efforts following U.S. President Donald Trump's pledges for mass deportations.
Patel commented, While the investigation is ongoing, an initial review of the evidence shows an ideological motive behind this attack.
Dallas police reported that the suspect, identified as 29-year-old Joshua Jahn, opened fire from an adjacent building, resulting in a chaotic scene for the victims. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that one detainee has died and two others are in critical condition, one identified as a Mexican national.
This incident reflects a wider concern regarding incursions of political violence in the U.S., especially against law enforcement entities that handle immigration enforcement.
The rhetoric surrounding ICE and immigration has drawn both condemnation and support across the political spectrum, with lawmakers urging for a cessation of divisive and incendiary language.
