The Department of Homeland Security plans to beef up security at Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities all over the country in the wake of a deadly attack on a Dallas field office this week.
“In light of today’s horrific shooting that was motivated by hatred for ICE and the other unprecedented acts of violence against ICE law enforcement, including bomb threats, cars being used [as] weapons, rocks and Molotov cocktails thrown at officers, and doxing online of officers families, DHS will immediately begin increasing security at ICE facilities across the country,” DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. “Our ICE officers are facing a more than 1000% increase in assaults against them.”
The Dallas gunman shot three ICE detainees, killing one, in an attack officials are investigating as an act of targeted violence. While no one in federal or local law enforcement was harmed, investigators alleged that ammo found next to the shooter, who authorities said died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, contained anti-ICE messaging.
That same Dallas ICE facility was the target of a bomb threat just last month. Local law enforcement called in a bomb squad and staff were forced to shelter in place.
In a Wednesday social media post, President Donald Trump blamed rising political violence on “Radical Left Democrats constantly demonizing law enforcement” and sought to tie the shooting to the assassination of conservative organizer Charlie Kirk, who was killed just over two weeks ago while speaking at a college campus in Utah.
“The continuing violence from Radical Left Terrorists, in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, must be stopped,” Trump wrote. “ICE Officers, and other Brave Members of Law Enforcement, are under grave threat.”
DHS did not immediately respond to a request from POLITICO for more information on the security measures, and whether they are being paid for with funding from Trump’s signature One Big Beautiful Bill Act.