A quiet Tuesday night in downtown Atlanta turned into a federal crime scene.
The FBI is investigating reports that an incendiary device was thrown at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in downtown Atlanta on Tuesday night, Oct. 20, 2026. No one was hurt, and the ICE building did not appear to be damaged.
What happened at the ICE building?
Someone threw an object at the ICE building late Tuesday evening, according to Atlanta police. No fire broke out.
The FBI said there were no reports of injuries or significant damage and that there was no known threat to public safety. Bureau personnel and evidence response technicians collected evidence at the scene. Evidence markers were placed around the outside of the facility as investigators examined the area. Agents remained on scene late into the night.
Atlanta police blocked off the street outside the ICE building while federal agents searched the area. Law enforcement cleared the scene early Wednesday.
Where is the ICE building?
The ICE field office sits on Ted Turner Drive in the southern part of downtown, about two blocks from the Garnett MARTA station and a few blocks south of the Richard Russell Federal Building.
The building also houses Atlanta’s immigration court, where judges hear deportation cases. Immigration courts are run by the Justice Department, and the Atlanta court handles a heavy caseload from Georgia and nearby states. Immigrants and their lawyers regularly visit the building for hearings and required appointments.
Do investigators have a suspect?
Not yet. Police are searching for whoever was responsible, and no arrests have been announced. No group or person has claimed responsibility.
Investigators are gathering surveillance footage to help identify the person who threw the device at the ICE building. They have not said what the device was made of or whether a specific person or office was targeted.
ICE did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and Atlanta police referred questions to federal authorities. The FBI also did not immediately return a separate request for more details.
Have ICE facilities been targeted before?
Yes. Federal officials say threats and assaults against immigration officers have risen sharply as enforcement has expanded. Officials point to a rise in threats as immigration arrests and deportations have increased across the country.
The Department of Homeland Security has reported 647 assaults on ICE officials from Jan. 20, 2025, through September, compared with 37 during a similar period beginning in 2021. That is an increase of more than 1,600%, according to the department.
In September 2025, a gunman opened fire on an ICE field office in Dallas, killing detainees. The gunman died at the scene. That attack, which involved a sniper firing from a nearby rooftop, prompted calls for tighter security at immigration facilities nationwide.
Critics of the administration’s immigration crackdown have held protests outside ICE offices across the country. Most have been peaceful, though some have led to clashes with officers. Advocates for immigrants have condemned violence while criticizing the administration’s enforcement tactics.
What happens next in the ICE building investigation?
The FBI said the investigation is ongoing and that no further details were available. Investigators will review evidence and video from the area. Anyone with information is typically asked to contact the FBI tip line.
Throwing an incendiary device at a federal building is a serious federal crime that can carry a long prison sentence. Federal law sets a minimum prison term of several years for using fire or explosives to damage federal property.
It was not immediately clear whether operations at the ICE building or the immigration court inside would be affected.
