Federal investigators are probing whether a controversial mobile app played a role in last week’s deadly sniper attack at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Dallas. The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Joshua Jahn, opened fire from the rooftop of a nearby building on September 24, killing two detainees and critically injuring a third before dying of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
According to FBI Director Kash Patel, digital evidence suggests Jahn had been conducting extensive pre-attack research in the weeks leading up to the shooting. Investigators say Jahn downloaded and used ICEBlock, an app that crowdsources real-time locations of ICE officers. The platform allows users to pin sightings on a digital map, automatically sending alerts within a five-mile radius. Patel noted Jahn’s use of the app coincided with an uptick in downloads following a June CNN feature on the software.
The app, which launched in April, has drawn widespread controversy. Developer Joshua Aaron promoted it as an “early warning system” for undocumented migrants, but federal officials quickly condemned the tool. ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons previously blasted CNN’s coverage, calling it “reckless and irresponsible” and warning that the app “paints a target on federal law enforcement officers’ backs.” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed those concerns, arguing that the app encourages violence against ICE personnel.
At the Dallas crime scene, investigators recovered unspent rifle rounds engraved with anti-ICE slogans, along with a handwritten note in which Jahn wrote of wanting to instill “real terror” among immigration officers. Authorities also discovered that Jahn had researched DHS facilities in Dallas County, ballistics, and prior mass shootings, reinforcing what Patel described as “a high degree of pre-attack planning.”
The Dallas attack is the fourth violent incident this year at a Department of Homeland Security facility in Texas. Officials say threats against ICE personnel have skyrocketed, with DHS reporting a more than 1,000% increase in targeted threats and attacks in recent months. In response, federal agencies have implemented immediate nationwide security upgrades at ICE field offices and detention centers.
As investigators continue analyzing Jahn’s digital footprint and potential connections to activist platforms, the Dallas shooting has reignited debate over whether apps like ICEBlock should be restricted or banned. Federal officials say they are reviewing potential legal actions against the platform while emphasizing their commitment to protecting officers on the frontlines of immigration enforcement.