Vice President JD Vance is under scrutiny on social media over an X post following a shooting at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office in Dallas, Texas, on Wednesday.
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons initially told CNN that three people were shot and the gunman died of a self-inflicted wound, though he could not confirm the victims’ identities. A Homeland Security spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, later told Fox News that no ICE officers were injured and that the wounded were “potentially detainees.”
At a news conference, Joe Rothrock, the FBI’s Dallas special agent in charge, also confirmed that no ICE agents were hurt and described the incident as an act of “targeted violence.”
“What I can also share with you is that early evidence that we’ve seen from rounds that were found near the suspected shooter contains messages that are anti-ICE in nature,” Rothrock said.
In an earlier post on X, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said “details are still emerging” regarding the shooting.
“While we don’t know motive yet, we know that our ICE law enforcement is facing unprecedented violence against them,” Noem wrote in her post. “It must stop. Please pray for the victims and their families.”
Vance then replied to Noem: “The obsessive attack on law enforcement, particularly ICE, must stop. I’m praying for everyone hurt in this attack and for their families.”
The obsessive attack on law enforcement, particularly ICE, must stop. I’m praying for everyone hurt in this attack and for their families. https://t.co/wEN3sqyGyQ
— JD Vance (@JDVance) September 24, 2025
Leftists and liberals on social media criticized Vance, claiming he had pointed fingers without official confirmation.
“You left this tweet up. The attack killed detainees, you trashfire,” political strategist Rick Wilson posted on X.
The Bulwark’s Tim Miller wrote: “The Vice President is live tweeting a mass shooting to try to score political points and he’s got it totally wrong… Irresponsible and sick.”
“Not surprising, but utterly irresponsible for you to tweet this… You have no idea yet who this was an attack on. But your aim is to stoke violence and division. Shame on you,” former GOP congressman turned Democrat Joe Walsh added.
One user said, “You can still delete this,” and the Meidas Touch account wrote, “You’re the Vice President of the United States. Not a random s— poster.”
However, it was later confirmed by FBI Director Kash Patel that the attacker opened fire and killed one person and injured several others before taking his own life. An initial review of the evidence suggests the attack was ideologically motivated. This was attributed to an unspent shell casing engraved with the phrase “ANTI ICE.”
This morning just before 7am local time, an individual fired multiple rounds at a Dallas, Texas ICE facility, killing one, wounding several others, before taking his own life. FBI, DHS, ATF are on the ground with Dallas PD and state authorities.
While the investigation is… pic.twitter.com/SMOyxiKLqA
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) September 24, 2025
While no law enforcement officers were killed in the shooting, Noem announced back in August that assaults on ICE agents have increased by at least 1,000%.
“These acts of violence are fueled by sanctuary politicians rhetoric vilifying our law enforcement. We will not and have not let this violence stop us or slow us down,” Noem wrote on X. “Everyday our law enforcement continues to enforce the law and arrest the most depraved criminals including pedophiles, terrorists, murderers, gang members, and sexual predators.”
Vance will make his first visit to North Carolina Wednesday, speaking in Concord on President Trump’s tax cuts and public safety policies. His trip comes as GOP lawmakers weigh tougher bond rules for people with criminal histories and mental illness. The visit follows national attention on public safety after 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska was fatally stabbed on a Charlotte-area commuter train last month.
BREAKING: Authorities provide update on shooting at Dallas ICE facility, Patel releases photo
