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The Situation Room

Police Say, One Person Killed, Two Wounded in Shooting at ICE Facility; Soon, Texas Officials to Give Update on Dallas ICE Facility Shooting; Ukrainian President Zelenskyy Addresses U.N. General Assembly. Aired 10-10:30a ET

Aired September 24, 2025 - 10:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now, breaking news, a gunman opened fire at an ICE facility in Dallas. At least one person is dead, according to police. And we are live with the very latest.

Welcome to our viewers in the United States and around the world.

[10:00:00]

I'm Pamela Brown. Wolf Blitzer has the morning off today, and you are in The Situation Room.

And we begin with the breaking news. A gunman opens fire at an ICE facility in Dallas, killing at least one person and wounding two others. Law enforcement officials tell CNN that at least two detainees were shot. According to the deputy director of ICE, no ICE officers were injured and the shooter is deceased.

We are told ICE employee, civilians and immigrant detainees are among those at that facility. We are awaiting news conference any moment, and, of course, we'll bring that to you as soon as it starts.

But let's go straight to CNN's Priscilla Alvarez. Priscilla, what is the.

PRISCILLA ALVAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Pamela, we're still gathering details as to what exactly unfolded here, but we are learning more from the Dallas police, which moments ago said what transpired this morning in a post on X. Let me read some of that to you. They said that they responded at about 6:40 A.M. to an assist officer call at this facility. They went on to say that the preliminary investigation determined that a suspect opened fire at a government building from an adjacent building and went on to say that two people were transported to the hospital with gunshot wounds, as you mentioned, one of whom died at the scene and that the suspect is deceased.

Now, the acting ICE director, Todd Lyons, on our air this morning saying that the suspect was dead from a self-inflicted wound. And what my sources tell me is that at least two detainees were shot when this happened.

Now, just to give you a little bit of context as to what the facility is. This Dallas ICE facility is generally a place used to process detainees. So, they may be arrested by ICE, taken to this facility to be processed where there are about three or four holding cells. So, generally, there are a few dozen people at the facility before they are then transferred to a detention center.

Now, we still do not know the motive of this shooter. We'll hopefully learn more about that in the forthcoming presser. But what we do know from Homeland Security officials is that no ICE agents were shot or hurt during this incident. That's what they have said so far. But they're also highlighting that there have been increased assaults, attacks and threats on ICE personnel. In fact, this particular facility was the target of a bomb threat in late August.

So, the Department of Homeland Security similarly saying that they do not have yet a motive for this shooter, but they are tying this as well to what they have seen across the country, which is this increase in attacks toward ICE personnel.

Take a listen to what the acting ICE director had to say about that this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TODD LYONS, ACTING DIRECTOR, U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT: I never seen threats on law enforcement, specifically ICE, increased the way it is. You know, we're up over a thousand percent assaults on officers right now. And really just a lot of the talk that's out there, a lot of the rhetoric is just the violence director towards law enforcement officers just trying to do their job. And it would just keep -- just keeping -- seeing an increase.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALVAREZ: Now, again, I want to stress that the motive here is unknown. We're still trying to gather details on that. But what we do know is that at least two of those who were shot were detainees. There have been injuries, at least one person killed. The shooter died from a self-inflicted wound. And according to the Department of Homeland Security, no ICE agents were shot or hurt in this incident. We'll hopefully learn a lot more in the press conference in the minutes to come. Pamela?

BROWN: All right. I want to bring in Charles Ramsey for more on this. I know, Charles, we are expecting to hear from police there in Dallas. There're still a lot of questions. We don't know a motive. How are you looking at this? What questions do you have?

CHARLES RAMSEY, CNN SENIOR LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Well, certainly, hopefully, we'll get a lot more information as the, conference unfolds. But right now, behind the scenes, what's going on, the shooter is dead. So, they've either already identified him or they're in the process of identifying, which will lead to search warrants, a look at his social media footprint, did he leave anything behind, trying to determine motive. We know we have one dead, two detainees shot. Was the intent to shoot detainees or was it to shoot ICE agents? I mean, we just don't know whether or not the deceased individual was a detainee as well. So, there are an awful lot of unanswered questions. I'm sure the FBI will be involved in this since it happened at a federal facility along with the Dallas P.D. So, hopefully, we begin to get a picture of what actually took place once the press conference is completed.

BROWN: And we should note that there has been an uptick in attacks on ICE facilities, ICE officials.

[10:05:00]

In fact, there has been over 800 percent spike when compared to the previous year in terms of assaults on officers. So, you have that, plus the fact that this same facility in Dallas had been targeted before with a bomb threat. Are you surprised a gunman was able to get there and get through whatever security there is and carry this out?

RAMSEY: Well, from what we know so far, this is apparently a sniper. I don't know how far away the sniper was from the facility itself. The security they had in place there and probably at ICE facilities and federal facilities, for that matter, around the country are basically protecting the building itself, in and around the building, which doesn't take into account a sniper. We don't know how far the person was, the kind of weapon it was used, obviously probably a rifle of some sort, you know, in order to make a shot. But there are a lot of unanswered questions.

But, yes, I'm sure that security's been increased. I mean, this is very controversial what ICE is doing right now. But these officers are only doing their jobs and they're doing it the direction of the president. So, you know, this is something that's controversial and certainly, unfortunately, not surprising in the current environment we find ourselves in today. But it's unfortunate someone lost their life, whoever that individual is.

BROWN: And the vice president, J.D. Vance, just tweeted out, quote, the obsessive attack on law enforcement, particularly ICE, must stop. I'm praying for everyone hurt in this attack and for their families. Again, at this early stage in the investigation, officials are saying that ICE officials were not injured in this. We know that two were shot, one was killed. So, we're awaiting more details.

But given this threat environment, what should happen moving forward in terms of protecting, as you said, these ICE agents who were just carrying out orders from the president?

RAMSEY: Well, I'm sure there's going to be a security assessment done at all federal facilities, but I would argue it goes beyond federal facilities. I mean, political violence, in general, is taking place in our country. And those high-profile individuals, elected officials, federal employees and so forth, need to do a threat assessment to make sure that they're taking steps necessary in order to secure themselves.

They won't be 100 percent full-proof, but at least review what you currently are doing to see whether or not there are additional steps, whether you need drones to check rooftops or whatever it might be. I don't know the answer, but I do know that you do need to assess where you are right now and what you may need to do in the future to do all you can to protect the people who work in these facilities.

BROWN: The gunman is dead, according to officials. So, how does that complicate this investigation in terms of identifying a motive?

RAMSEY: Well, I mean, he probably left something behind. They've either already identified this individual or they certainly can't identify him through fingerprints and various other means. And they're going through social media posts, they're going through a vehicle, if he drove a vehicle there, all these kinds of things to try to uncover a motive. Sometimes you never do determine a motive. I think in this case, you probably will. He took his own life, probably left something behind. Some of these guys want, you know, the world to know why they did what they did. Even though it may not make a lot of sense to us, to them it makes sense. And so, I'd be surprised if eventually they don't uncover a motive in this particular case.

BROWN: Right. And just to be clear, I'm not sure if we've identified whether the shooter is a male or female. So, we're just waiting for more details, hopefully, from police there in Dallas.

And as we await for, you know, officials to come and answer questions, tell us a little bit more about what you would want to ask them if you were there at that press conference.

RAMSEY: Well, one question we just talked about, and that is, do you have a motive? Who is the shooter? I mean, do you have an I.D.? Are you able to share that information? They may not be able to because in the early stages of an investigation, even if you know who the shooter is, you want time to be able to not only see social media and conduct search warrants, but you want to be able to interview family, friends, all those kinds of things. And once that name is out there, it makes it even more difficult.

What kind of weapon did this individual use? How far away was that person? Do you believe the target was actually detainees, or was he actually shooting at ICE agents? Were the detainees outdoors? What were the circumstances where they were exposed to sniper fire?

I mean, these are all things that, you know, I'd kind of want to know at this stage in the investigation. Some of that information you'll be able to get. Some of it you won't because it is in the early stages.

BROWN: But it's important to get those answers to protect and address vulnerabilities at these facilities, right?

So, Charles Ramsey, thank you so much, Priscilla Alvarez, thank you as well.

[10:10:02]

We're going to take a quick break and we'll be back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BROWN: Breaking news out of Texas, we are standing by for officials there to give us an update on the shooting at an ICE facility in Dallas. One person is dead. Two others were injured. At least two detainees were shot. And according to the deputy director of ICE, no ICE officers were injured and the shooter is deceased. We will bring that news update to you live by Texas officials when it happens.

And there is more breaking news we are following this morning, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy standing before world leaders at the United Nations and calling for more support in his nation's war against Russia. Zelenskyy's addressed to the U.N. General Assembly wrapping up just minutes ago.

[10:15:10]

And it comes after his meeting with President Trump yesterday.

A short time later, President Trump reversed his position on the war and voiced confidence that Ukraine can regain its territory seized by Russia. On social media, the president posted this. I think Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and win all of Ukraine back in its original form.

We are covering all the angles of this busy morning. CNN's Kylie Atwood is at the United Nations. So, Kylie, what stood out to you most from President Zelenskyy speech?

KYLIE ATWOOD, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, President Zelenskyy just here addressing the United Nations saying that peace depends on the countries who were listening to his speech today. It depends on whether or not they choose to support Ukraine, or they choose to continue trading with Russia. It was hugely significant that he is essentially putting the feet of the fire of the people who are listening to him in there today.

We didn't hear him specifically address this reversal, this apparent reversal from President Trump on Ukraine policy, but I do want you to listen to a bit of what he said, thanking the US for support and also saying that Ukraine is going to need to continue receiving that support.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT: We count on the United States. I appreciate the support we are receiving. Yes, much depends on the G7 and G20. But in the end, peace depends on all of us, on the United Nations. So, don't stay silent while Russia keeps dragging this war on. Please speak out and condemn it. Please join us in defending life and international law and other people are waiting for action.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ATWOOD: Now, we also heard from President Zelenskyy on Fox yesterday saying that he was genuinely a little bit surprised by Trump's reversal on Ukraine policy, but he believes it's a genuine shift. He also said that he thinks that his relationship with Trump has gotten better because President Putin has been consistently lying to Trump over the last few months.

Now, U.S. officials are telling us that part of this reversal in policy is Trump trying to get Putin back to the negotiating table. That's according to my colleague, Kevin Liptak. But I can tell you that European diplomats here are trying to figure out exactly where Trump wants to go on this policy, which is one where he has shifted back and forth consistently over the last eight months or so.

BROWN: Yes, certainly. Wow. Kylie Atwood at the U.N., thank you so much.

So, let's talk a little bit more about this. I want to bring in Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland. He's a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Thank you for coming on, Senator.

So, you just heard Kylie's report there as Zelenskyy address comes just after President Trump said this about Russia at the U.N. yesterday. Let's watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REPORTER: Mr. President, do you think that NATO countries should shoot down Russian aircraft if they enter their airspace?

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: Yes, I do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: So, you have those comments and then his posts that Ukraine is, quote, "in a position to fight and win all of Ukraine back in its original form." I'm curious if you support the president's shift in tone.

SEN. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN (D-MD): Well, Pamela, I do, if it's real. This is an acknowledgement by President Trump, even though he would never admit it, that he's been played by Vladimir Putin for eight months now. Trump thought he could sweet talk his friend, Vladimir, into ending his aggression against Ukraine. And, in fact, what Putin did was increase his assault on Ukraine.

So, I'm glad that President Trump finally seems to be acknowledging the obvious. Whether this will stick, you never know. And that's the problem with the president's policy, first throwing the Ukrainians under the bus, and now he has a big credibility problem. Let's see what the way ahead is.

BROWN: So, President Trump is now urging Ukraine to fight to win back its territory, but his secretary of state, Marco Rubio, said that the war, quote, cannot end militarily, and must end at a negotiating table. Who is right here?

VAN HOLLEN: Well, ultimately, there will be a negotiation here, but the question is how you go into a negotiation. And what Donald Trump did early in his administration was essentially undermine Ukraine's position. I mean, he said in advance, they had to give up territory. He said in advance there'd be no NATO guarantee ever. So, what Donald Trump did was simply embolden Putin. What we need now is what Trump actually did not say, which is continued U.S. support for its military, for Ukraine's military, but also squeezing the Russian economy even harder.

[10:20:00]

We need to do both of that. It's not clear, Pamela, what Trump's actually prepared to do on those fronts.

BROWN: Right. But, I mean, President Trump is essentially saying this war should go on until Ukraine gets all of its territory back. That is something that Russia would not go for, right, would not just give up at the negotiating table. What kind of appetite do you have for this war to continue on and for the U.S. to support those efforts?

VAN HOLLEN: Well, I will continue to support the people of Ukraine as I have from the beginning. And the United States Congress, for the most part on a bipartisan basis, has also pushed for that. It's been Donald Trump who has resisted the idea of additional American support, military support to Ukraine.

And he's been very slow to actually implement any sanctions on countries that are buying more and more oil from Ukraine. He began to take some steps with respect to India. He's not done anything with respect to China. We have bipartisan legislation in the Senate with, I think, about 80 co-sponsors now. The reason we have not brought that up yet, according to the Republican leader, Thune, is because Donald Trump doesn't want us to take it up.

So, again, Pamela, what we've seen is a zig and zag from President Trump, which is the worst approach for somebody who claims that they were going to end the war in Ukraine on day one.

BROWN: I want to get your thoughts on what's going on with Gaza and Israel. The president denounced countries who recognize Palestinian statehood as rewarding Hamas. This was during his speech at the U.N. yesterday. I know you disagree with him. You recently traveled to the West Bank. Why is President Trump wrong, in your view?

VAN HOLLEN: Well, in fact, it's exactly the opposite. Hamas has long been of the view that they want all of Israel. So, they are one staters. They want to end the state of Israel. They want Hamas to rule that entire territory. So, they've been one staters. It's the Palestinian Authority that has long recognized Israel's right to exist that has supported a two-state solution as the one way to bring both security and dignity and self-determination to Israelis and Palestinians alike.

So, what Donald Trump has been doing is giving a complete blank check to the Netanyahu government, including extremists in the Netanyahu government who want all the land, but they want it all for the state of Israel, people like Smotrich, people like Ben-Gvir, even people like Netanyahu.

So, this is the big lie, the big deception. This does not help Hamas. What this does is create some light at the end of a tunnel to provide a real alternative to Hamas, to push Hamas to the sidelines. They would have no role, zero role in the governance of any future Palestinian state.

BROWN: You're also an appropriator. Are there any bipartisan talks taking place right now to prevent a government shutdown next week after the meeting between President Trump and Top Democrats was canceled? Bring us into that.

VAN HOLLEN: Well, Pamela, the only person who counts on the Republican side is Donald Trump. Republicans have essentially contracted out their constitutional duties to him. That's why we thought maybe there was a little opening when Trump said that he would meet with Democratic leaders to address the budget. But as you know, he has since called that off. And he essentially wants a blank check to continue his lawless activities, and he doesn't appear to give a damn about the fact that we have a real time bomb ticking on Americans' healthcare. At the end of this year, people will see huge spikes in premiums, millions will lose access to healthcare if we don't act.

So, Donald Trump has walked away from the table. Apparently, he is rooting for a shutdown,

BROWN: And as you know, Republicans will say it's the Democrat to be at fault here. That's why the government shut down. I mean, we have seen this movie play out so many times. Should the American people prepare for a government shutdown at this point?

VAN HOLLEN: Well, Pamela, based on what Donald Trump has done, which is shut the door on any negotiations and demand that everything be his way or the highway, I think that we're heading in that direction unless Donald Trump decides to focus on trying to make sure we don't continue to see a rise in costs, especially rising healthcare costs.

And we also need some kind of safeguards against his illegal withholding of important investments for the American people. So, he's been withholding funds for NIH to develop important cures and treatments for the American people.

[10:25:00]

He has been withholding funds for FEMA, communities across the country that have been very hard hit by hurricanes and other natural disasters.

So, you have to have something that's worth the paper it's written on. And right now, Donald Trump is engaged in illegal withholding. That's just not my view. That's the view of the General Accountability Office. And he also doesn't seem to care about the fact that we're going to see a huge spike in healthcare costs as other costs are rising on the American people as well.

BROWN: We'll certainly see if that happens. It's something, you know, as a reporter, we'll be looking at. I want to ask you about Jimmy Kimmel. He just came back on air last night after his suspension. There is reporting that you are among a group of Democratic lawmakers opening an investigation into Nexstar and Sinclair. Those are the two TV station owners preempting Jimmy Kimmel's late night show after comments about the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Why pursue that and have you received any response from them?

VAN HOLLEN: No response yet, Pamela. But what we're seeing is a gross violation of the First Amendment and the right to free speech. I mean, the government cannot use its power to try to silence its critics in the United States of America. That's what our Constitution says.

Now, I know the president was asked months ago whether he had to comply with the Constitution. He said he really doesn't know. But I think Americans across the political spectrum recognize it's very dangerous when Donald Trump and his administration tried to punish speech by using government power, like the chair of the FCC said he was going to do. And now Donald Trump, even just in the last 24 hours, has said he is going to go after ABC and Jimmy Kimmel.

This should worry every single American. You know, we fought a revolution for, among other things, the right to free speech and not to be essentially punished or even locked up for our speech. But that's the road Donald Trump is headed down right now.

BROWN: All right. Senator Chris Van Hollen. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate it.

VAN HOLLEN: Good to be with you. Thanks.

BROWN: And still ahead right here on, CNN Senate Majority Leader John Thune joins Dana Bash to discuss the shutdown standoff happening right now on Capitol Hill. We were just talking about it there. That's at 12:00 P.M. Eastern on Inside Politics.

And coming up, we are following breaking news out of Dallas. A shooting at an ICE facility leaves one person dead and two others injured. We're waiting for officials to give an update and we'll bring that to you live.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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