Texas ICE Offices Received Envelopes With Suspicious White Powder, DHS Says

Two separate Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities in Texas received envelopes containing suspicious white powder, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revealed on Nov. 21.

“On Friday morning, an ICE officer discovered a white powdery substance in an envelope addressed to the Dallas ICE facility,” DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement.

An ICE officer at the Dallas facility opened the envelope—addressed to the “Dallas Field Office”—and noticed the suspicious substance.

A shelter-in-place order was immediately issued as ICE officials called in a hazmat team, the Federal Protective Service, and the Dallas Fire Department “out of precaution.”

A second envelope containing suspicious white powder was discovered at ICE offices in Irving, Texas, which is just over 10 miles away from Dallas. A hazmat team was also called to respond to that incident.

“There is no threat to the public and the matter is under investigation,” McLaughlin said, without identifying the substance in the envelopes.

This is the third time ICE officers in the Dallas office have faced serious threats in recent months.

“This incident comes after the deadly terrorist attack  in September and a bomb threat in August at the Dallas facility,” McLaughlin added.

Two immigration detainees died during a shooting at the ICE field office in Dallas on Sept. 24. The suspect, who was a sniper on a rooftop nearby, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

No law enforcement officials were injured in the September attack, but they remain on alert.

“Our ICE officers are facing a 1000% increase in assaults and an 8000% increase in death threats against them as they remove dangerous criminals from our communities. We call on politicians and activists to tone down their rhetoric before a law enforcement officer is killed,” McLaughlin said.

Despite the ongoing threats, the Dallas ICE office has made several strides in efforts to tackle illegal immigration in Texas.

The office most recently arrested 41 illegal immigrants accused of being involved in a major sex trafficking ring at a strip club in the area. Immigration officials suspect 29 of those were working illegally at the club.