The Mexican Ministry of Foreign Relations (SRE) demanded on Wednesday a full investigation into the shooting that took place at the ICE detention center in Dallas, Texas, where a Mexican citizen was seriously injured and remains hospitalized.
The attack, reported on the morning of September 24, left one other person wounded and another dead, while the assailant took his own life before he could be detained.
The Consulate General of Mexico in Dallas confirmed that it is in contact with the family of the Mexican national to provide legal assistance and support, and is seeking authorization to visit him in the hospital.
At the same time, the Unit for North America conveyed through diplomatic channels Mexico’s concern and its request for a thorough investigation, as well as unrestricted access to the injured individual.
The SRE reiterated that, through its consular network in the United States, it will continue to safeguard the protection and defense of the rights of Mexicans abroad, assisting families and demanding transparency in the ongoing investigations.
U.S. authorities identified the attacker as Joshua Jahn, who fired from a rooftop at the entrance of the facility and at a van parked in the area. Shell casings marked “ANTI-ICE” were recovered at the scene, suggesting a possible ideological motive.
According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), this was not the first attack on these facilities. Last month, a bomb threat was reported when an unknown man, later identified as 36-year-old U.S. citizen Bratton Dean Wilkinson, arrived at the entrance of the Dallas Field Office and claimed to have a bomb in his backpack at approximately 6:37 p.m. local time.
The suspect showed the security officer what he said was a detonator strapped to his wrist. As a result, the center was placed on lockdown, the officer called 911, and local police responded with a bomb squad. Wilkinson was taken into custody by local authorities and charged with making terrorist threats.
Related: Mexico Demands Thorough Investigation into Death of Mexican Migrant in ICE Detention
Mexican Press Agency is part of ALMA, which is dedicated to news and information about Mexico and Mexicans in the United States and is a fiscally sponsored project of Social Focus, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Redwood City, California.
