Detainees Shot in Attack on Dallas ICE Facility Identified, Source Says: Here’s What We Know About the Victims

Detainees Shot in Attack on Dallas ICE Facility Identified, Source Says: Here’s What We Know About the Victims

Dallas, Texas September 25, 2025 Federal officials have identified the three immigration detainees caught in the crossfire during last week’s shooting at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Dallas, where one man was killed and two others were injured. A law enforcement source familiar with the investigation confirmed the names to reporters on Wednesday.

The Victims

The detainee who died has been identified as Carlos Hernández, 32, originally from Honduras. According to immigration records, Hernández had been in ICE custody since late 2024 and was awaiting the outcome of his asylum case. Advocates said he had no serious criminal history and had been seeking protection from gang violence in his home country.

The two men injured in the attack are Luis Romero, 27, of El Salvador, and José Martínez, 41, of Guatemala. Both remain hospitalized but are expected to survive, according to officials briefed on their conditions. Romero sustained a gunshot wound to the shoulder, while Martínez was treated for abdominal injuries.

Family members of the men expressed anguish and frustration. “He called us just last week, saying he wanted to come home safely,” said Martínez’s sister, who lives in Houston. “Now we don’t even know if he’ll be able to walk again.”

The Attack

Authorities said the shooting occurred on September 24 when an armed man opened fire near a secured entrance to the detention facility. ICE officials described the incident as an attempt to “terrorize” staff and disrupt operations.

The alleged gunman, whose identity has not yet been released, was taken into custody after a standoff with federal agents. Investigators are still determining his motive, though preliminary findings suggest he targeted the facility out of opposition to immigration enforcement.

Community Response

The attack has sparked outrage among immigrant rights groups and heightened concerns about detainee safety inside ICE facilities. “No matter where someone stands on immigration, detainees are under U.S. government care and protection,” said Marisol Domínguez, director of a Dallas-based advocacy group. “The fact that they were caught in this violence is unacceptable.”

Local leaders also pressed for answers about security measures. “This tragedy underscores the need to review protocols,” said Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson. “Our priority must be preventing further loss of life.”

Federal Investigation

The FBI has joined the investigation, treating the case as both a criminal attack and a potential act of domestic terrorism. Officials stressed that detainees were not the intended targets but acknowledged that the consequences were “tragic and unacceptable.”

ICE said it is conducting an internal review of the incident while providing medical and mental health support for detainees at the facility.

A Community in Mourning

For families of the victims, the shooting has compounded the uncertainty of an already fraught immigration process. Hernández’s relatives in Honduras said they are seeking help to have his remains repatriated. Romero and Martínez’s families, meanwhile, are pushing for their release on humanitarian grounds as they recover.

“This should never have happened,” said Hernández’s cousin. “He came here for safety and lost his life in a place that was supposed to protect him.”