Coverage of the horrific shooting at an ICE detention center in Dallas, TX took a turn for the nasty. Correspondent Mireya Villareal implied that the shooting was ICE officers’ fault.
Watch as Villareal mashes masked ICE officers with Charie Kirk:
MIREYA VILLAREAL: Today's attack coming two weeks to the day after the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Casings found at the scene of that assassination also bore written messages, according to law enforcement. Vice President Vance late today on the suspect.
JD VANCE: There's some evidence that we have that is not yet public, but we know this person was politically motivated.
VILLAREAL: While critics say the mask-wearing, often plain clothes ICE officers often terrorize communities.
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons says they’re just doing their jobs, and he says attacks on ICE officers are up 1,000% since January.
TODD LYONS: 1000%, more than we ever had. And it's just getting worse. And these keep getting elevated and elevated.
VILLAREAL: Last month, this man was arrested at this same facility after authorities said he threatened to detonate a bomb in a backpack. And they say multiple armed assailants in tactical gear attacked an ICE facility in Alvarado, Texas on July 4th. One officer was wounded. This latest shooting comes amid a new poll tonight asking Americans how serious a problem do you think political violence is today? 71% say it's very serious. 22% say somewhat serious. And when asked, do you think the way people talk about politics these days is contributing to the violence here? 82% said yes.
It appears that ICE officers were targeted in this shooting. It is important to memorialize this because it is absolutely BONKERS that Villareal would do the “critics say” thing about masked ICE officers trying to do their jobs. But here we are.
The report began simply enough, with an overwrought introduction by David Muir, and then to Villareal for what was otherwise a clean report on the awful shooting. It is at this point that Lyons introduces her Masked agent talking point.
To do that when the data says that threats of violence against ICE officers have increased seems especially callous. One understands why they’re reluctant to take the masks and gaiters off. This report did nothing to lower the temperature on the streets. Far from it- it only gave aid and comfort to those would wage war on our law enforcement.
Click “expand” to view the full transcript of the aforementioned report as aired on ABC World News Tonight on Wednesday, September 25th, 2025:
DAVID MUIR: Good evening. We begin tonight here with the deadly sniper attack. A gunman on a roof targeting an ICE facility in Dallas. Three detainees shot, one killed. Two in critical condition. Tonight, the alleged shooter now identified. ICE officials say the gunman fired indiscriminately at the building- at a transport van carrying detainees. The victims were inside the van. No ICE agents were wounded. Police and the FBI describing the shooting as a sniper-style attack from a roof top looking down on the facility. Authorities on the scene recovering rounds of ammunition, a shell casing found with a message. The suspect, 29-year-old Joshua John. Police say he took his own life. The FBI now searching for a possible motive. Tonight, ICE facilities across the country increasing security. ABC's Mireya Villarreal leading us off tonight, she's on the scene in Dallas.
MIREYA VILLAREAL: Tonight, ICE detention facilities nationwide on high alert after a sniper rained bullets from a rooftop on a van filled with detainees, killing one detainee and wounding two more in what authorities are calling an act of targeted violence against the agency.
R. JOSEPH ROTHROCK: Early evidence that we've seen from rounds that were found near the shooter contain messages that are anti-ICE In nature.
VILLAREAL: Authorities say the suspect, identified as 29-year-old Joshua Jahn, was firing indiscriminately. These images showing windows and an American flag display riddled with bullets. FBI agents seen gathering evidence on a nearby rooftop, where FBI Director Kash Patel revealed they found these rounds of ammunition, with writings on one of them reading “Anti-ICE.” SWAT teams swarming the scene in Dallas just after 6:40 A.M., responding to reports of a man with a rifle firing down from a nearby roof top on the secure entryway called a Sally port, as a van was transporting detainees.
MAYRA FROM NICARAGUA (IN SPANISH): There were, like, 20 gunshots…
VILLAREAL: Mayra, from Nicaragua, telling me she was inside the facility waiting for her immigration status check-in when she heard the shots. Her daughter, who was on a call outside in her vehicle recording those gunshots.
MAYRA’S DAUGHTER (IN SPANISH): They sound loud.
DANIEL COMEAUX: We later learned that we had four individuals that were shot, two of them deceased, including the shooter.
VILLAREAL: Police say the suspect's vehicle had a poster taped to the rear fender showing a map of alleged nuclear fallout. It appears to be from a book that advocates against the use of nuclear weapons. It's not clear what the link is to the alleged attack. Today's attack coming two weeks to the day after the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Casings found at the scene of that assassination also bore written messages, according to law enforcement. Vice President Vance late today on the suspect.
JD VANCE: There's some evidence that we have that is not yet public, but we know this person was politically motivated.
VILLAREAL: While critics say the mask-wearing, often plain clothes ICE officers often terrorize communities.
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons says they’re just doing their jobs, and he says attacks on ICE officers are up 1,000% since January.
TODD LYONS: 1000%, more than we ever had. And it's just getting worse. And these keep getting elevated and elevated.
VILLAREAL: Last month, this man was arrested at this same facility after authorities said he threatened to detonate a bomb in a backpack. And they say multiple armed assailants in tactical gear attacked an ICE facility in Alvarado, Texas on July 4th. One officer was wounded. This latest shooting comes amid a new poll tonight asking Americans how serious a problem do you think political violence is today? 71% say it's very serious. 22% say somewhat serious. And when asked, do you think the way people talk about politics these days is contributing to the violence here? 82% said yes.
And David, just a few minutes ago, we saw FBI agents actually climbing down those stairs right there. I've been able to confirm with law enforcement they do believe that's where the shooter was perched this morning, taking the alleged shots. But we've also spoken with friends, people that knew the suspect. They say he was more of a gamer and not interested in politics. David.
DAVID MUIR: Maria, tonight. Maria, thank you.
