The man who opened fire at an unmarked ICE van in Dallas on Wednesday had researched apps designed to track ICE agent movements and left a note expressing hope that his attack would instill “real terror” in them, according to FBI Director Kash Patel. The shooter, 29-year-old Joshua Jahn, killed an illegal alien detainee and injured two others before taking his own life. Police recovered unspent bullet casings marked with the words “anti-ICE” at the scene. While ICE was clearly targeted, no agents were harmed in the attack.
Patel shared new details about the investigation on X, describing it as a premeditated left-wing domestic terror act. Evidence included handwritten notes and digital activity linking Jahn to planning the attack. The suspect downloaded documents outlining DHS facilities, searched for ballistics information, and researched apps tracking ICE agents between August and September. One note read: “Hopefully this will give ICE agents real terror, to think, ‘is there a sniper with AP [armor-piercing] rounds on that roof?’”
Recent months have seen a surge in attacks against ICE personnel. In Chicago, an ICE officer was seriously injured when a suspect fled a traffic stop and struck him. In Yakima, Washington, activists set fire to an ICE office. Similar incidents occurred in Dallas, McAllen, Alvarado, Linda Vista, and Portland, with attackers using vehicles, firearms, and coordinated tactics. The Department of Homeland Security reported a 1000% increase in violence against ICE agents since 2025.
DHS condemned “hateful anti-ICE rhetoric,” linking it to the rise in targeted violence. Federal authorities recently arrested six antifa agitators in Oregon following an attack on an ICE facility. The incidents highlight growing tensions between law enforcement and groups opposing immigration enforcement.
