Who They Were: Profiles of the Dallas ICE Shooting Victims

Who They Were: Profiles of the Dallas ICE Shooting Victims

Carlos Hernández, 32 Honduras

Hernández grew up in San Pedro Sula, a city often described as one of the most dangerous in Central America. Relatives say he left Honduras after repeated threats from gangs, hoping to secure asylum in the United States. He had worked as a carpenter and dreamed of starting a small business to support his two young children, who remain in Honduras. “He wasn’t looking for trouble,” his cousin said. “He just wanted a safe life for his family.” Hernández had been in ICE custody for nearly a year while his asylum petition was pending.

Luis Romero, 27 El Salvador

Romero fled El Salvador after witnessing violence linked to local criminal groups. Known among friends for his love of soccer, he had played as a midfielder on a neighborhood team before leaving for the U.S. He was detained by immigration officials in 2024 while working construction jobs in Texas. Romero’s family said he often called home to check on his mother and younger siblings. He is now recovering from a shoulder wound sustained during the shooting.

José Martínez, 41 Guatemala

Martínez had been a farmer in rural Guatemala before leaving for the U.S. in search of work and stability. Friends described him as quiet and hardworking, often sending money back to his wife and teenage son. He had been in ICE custody for several months, awaiting a hearing on his immigration case. Martínez suffered abdominal injuries in the attack and remains hospitalized. His sister in Houston said she is seeking permission to visit him: “He’s far from home, and all we can do is pray he recovers.”

Together, their stories highlight the human toll of the Dallas attack, men who came seeking safety or opportunity but instead found themselves caught in a burst of violence inside a system already under fierce national scrutiny.