Dallas, TX – A second immigrant detainee has died following a sniper attack on a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Dallas, authorities confirmed on September 30, 2025. The incident, which occurred on September 24, claimed the life of Miguel Ángel García-Hernández, a 32-year-old Mexican citizen, who succumbed to his injuries after being removed from life support. This tragedy underscores the volatile climate surrounding immigration enforcement in Texas and comes amidst a backdrop of increasing tensions and recent violent incidents targeting federal immigration facilities across the state.
The Tragic Toll of the Dallas Shooting
Miguel Ángel García-Hernández, originally from Mexico, was one of three detainees shot on the morning of September 24, 2025, when a gunman opened fire from a nearby rooftop onto a transport van carrying detainees. His wife stated that García-Hernández died after being taken off life support six days after the shooting. He was a house painter and the sole provider for his family, which includes four children, with a fifth child on the way. His death marks the second fatality from the attack, following that of Norlan Guzmán-Fuentes, 37, from El Salvador, who died at the scene. The third detainee shot, Jose Andres Bordones-Molina from Venezuela, sustained critical injuries and was hospitalized.
No ICE personnel or law enforcement officers were harmed during the shooting. Federal authorities initially provided conflicting information regarding the number of fatalities but later confirmed the two detainee deaths and one critically injured individual.
Shooter’s Motive and Investigation Findings
Authorities identified the assailant as Joshua Jahn, a 29-year-old resident of Fairview, Texas. Jahn died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound as law enforcement approached him following the attack. Investigations, including the discovery of handwritten notes and engraved shell casings found near his body, suggest a deeply anti-ICE motive. Notes indicated Jahn intended to “cause terror” and specifically target ICE agents, whom he described as “people showing up to collect a dirty paycheck” and implicated in “human trafficking.” The FBI’s investigation concluded that Jahn acted alone, planning the attack in advance with the intent to terrorize federal agents, noting that the death of detainees was a “tragic irony.”
Officials found no immediate connection between Jahn and any organized extremist groups, leading to speculation he may have been self-radicalized. The FBI is continuing its investigation, working to restore Jahn’s digital footprint to ascertain if he received any assistance.
Broader Texas Immigration Context: A State Under Pressure
The Dallas shooting is not an isolated event in Texas’s increasingly fraught immigration landscape. It follows a pattern of escalating violence and heightened enforcement actions that have become trending topics in Texas news.
Recent Attacks on Immigration Facilities
On July 4, 2025, an orchestrated ambush occurred at the Prairieland ICE detention facility in Alvarado, Texas. Approximately a dozen individuals dressed in tactical gear used fireworks to draw out officers before opening fire with rifles. An Alvarado police officer was shot in the neck during the incident, though he survived. This attack, allegedly driven by anti-government and anti-ICE ideologies, led to the arrest and charging of over fifteen individuals.
Just days later, on July 7, a man armed with an assault rifle fired on federal agents leaving a U.S. Border Patrol facility in McAllen, Texas, injuring a responding officer before being killed in a shootout. The Dallas ICE facility itself had also been the target of a bomb threat in August 2025.
Policy Shifts and Tensions
Adding to the complexity of immigration issues in Texas, state officials announced on September 30, 2025, a significant policy change: the halt of issuing or renewing commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) for DACA recipients, refugees, and asylum seekers. This move, citing federal audits and a commitment to road safety, has drawn criticism from immigrant advocates who argue it unfairly impacts legally authorized workers and could exacerbate labor shortages in critical industries like trucking. The state’s stance aligns with a national push to tighten licensing standards for non-citizens, creating further hurdles for many immigrants navigating life and work in Texas.
Lingering Concerns and Future Implications
The series of attacks and policy shifts highlights the deep divisions and escalating tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in Texas and across the nation. Politicians from both sides of the aisle have weighed in, with some pointing to rhetoric that demonizes ICE and others blaming far-left ideologies. Federal officials have increased security at ICE facilities nationwide in response to what they describe as a surge in threats and attacks. As investigations into the Dallas shooting continue, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of this contentious issue and the challenges of maintaining safety and order within the complex immigration system. This news will undoubtedly continue to shape policy debates and public discourse in the state and beyond.
