Law enforcement arrested a man on Monday evening after he made a bomb threat at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Dallas Field Office. The incident occurred when Bratton Dean Wilkinson, 36, approached the entrance of the facility and claimed to have a bomb in his backpack around 6:37 p.m. local time.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Wilkinson showed what he described as a “detonator” on his wrist to a security officer. A shelter-in-place order was issued for those inside the building while the officer contacted emergency services. Local police responded with a bomb squad.
“On Monday evening, law enforcement arrested a suspect who made bomb threats to a Dallas ICE facility. This incident comes just two weeks after a threatening letter with a white powdery substance was sent to an ICE office in New York City. Less than a week ago, a violent rioter was charged with assault in San Francisco after he threatened to stab an ICE officer and harm his family,” said a Senior DHS Official. “These incidents come after months of smears and rhetoric by activists, politicians, and the media comparing ICE law enforcement to the Nazi Gestapo, kidnappers, and the Secret Police. This shameful rhetoric has fueled a culture of hate against law enforcement resulting in a 1,000 percent increase in assaults against them. All sanctuary politicians, activists, and the media need to turn down their temperature.”
Wilkinson was taken into custody by local authorities and charged with making terroristic threats. By 7:19 p.m., police determined there was no ongoing threat and gave an all-clear for the facility.
The Dallas Field Office houses both ICE’s administrative offices as well as its Enforcement and Removal Operations division.
Recent weeks have seen several threats directed at ICE personnel across different cities. Earlier this month, ICE staff responded to an emergency involving white powder found at their offices at 26 Federal Plaza in New York City. In another recent case in San Francisco, DHS arrested an individual accused of making repeated violent threats against law enforcement officers.
Secretary Kristi Noem stated that anyone who attacks law enforcement will face prosecution under applicable laws.
