On the morning of Wednesday, September 24, a man unexpectedly opened fire at one of the ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) offices in Dallas. Following the incident, three people were injured, one of whom died at the scene, while the attacker also died from a self-inflicted wound after committing the act, according to reports from local authorities and ICE officials.
The shooting took place in the Texas city at around 6:40 a.m. local time, when the gunman began firing from a nearby building toward the ICE offices, particularly targeting the area known as the sally port, where immigrants are held before their transfers. The two injured victims were transported to Parkland Hospital to receive medical attention.
Todd Lyons, acting director of ICE, along with officials from the Department of Homeland Security, stated that the motive behind the attack is still under investigation. For now, authorities believe the incident may be linked to the rise in assaults against ICE agents in recent months. According to the FBI, some unfired bullets found at the scene had the inscription “ANTI-ICE”, suggesting a possible ideological motive behind the shooting.
What lesson can this attack leave for the security of immigration offices?
The most sensible approach would be to strengthen security and protection, increase cooperation among local, state, and federal agencies, and intensify surveillance against potential ideological threats that could emerge in the future.