This morning, a shocking incident unfolded at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Dallas field office when a sniper opened fire from a nearby rooftop. The assailant targeted the ICE building and a van in the sallyport, leading to a horrific outcome. Three detainees were shot during the attack, resulting in one fatality and the other two individuals being left in critical condition. The gunman was later discovered dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Secretary Noem expressed her condolences, stating, “Our prayers are with the families of those killed and our ICE law enforcement. This vile attack was motivated by hatred for ICE.” She emphasized the need for political leaders and media figures to reconsider their rhetoric surrounding ICE law enforcement, warning that inflammatory language could lead to real-world violence. “For months, we’ve been warning politicians and the media to tone down their rhetoric about ICE law enforcement before someone was killed,” she added.
Secretary Noem called for a national reflection, stating, “This shooting must serve as a wake-up call to the far-left that their rhetoric about ICE has consequences.” She highlighted the humanity of ICE employees, reminding the public that these individuals are not just agents but also “fathers and mothers, sons and daughters,” who strive to keep communities safe. “Like everyone else, we just want to go home to our families at night,” she said, urging an end to the dehumanization of those enforcing the law.
This incident is not the first instance of violence directed at the ICE facility in Dallas. Just last month, the location faced a bomb threat. An unknown male, later identified as Bratton Dean Wilkinson, a 36-year-old U.S. citizen, approached the reporting entrance of the Dallas Field Office and claimed to possess a bomb in his backpack around 6:37 PM local time. He even displayed what he alleged to be a “detonator” on his wrist, prompting immediate action from the facility's security team.
In response to the threat, a shelter-in-place order was issued for the facility. Local law enforcement agencies, including a bomb squad, quickly arrived at the scene. Wilkinson was subsequently taken into custody and charged with making terroristic threats. This recent history of aggression underscores the urgent need for increased security measures and a reevaluation of the public discourse surrounding ICE and its operations.
