Eight Members of North Texas Antifa Cell Sentenced to a Combined 450 Years for Terrorist Attack on ICE Detention Center

Federal judges in Texas sentenced eight members of what prosecutors described as a North Texas Antifa cell to prison terms ranging from 30 to 100 years on June 23, 2026, for their roles in a violent attack on the Prairieland ICE Detention Center in Alvarado on July 4, 2025. The incident involved rioting, vandalism of federal property, the use of explosives and firearms, and the attempted murder of law enforcement officers, marking one of the first federal terrorism prosecutions explicitly tied to Antifa activities in Texas.

The attack unfolded late on Independence Day when a group of nearly a dozen individuals dressed in black bloc attire and body armor targeted the facility. They set off and threw fireworks, vandalized vehicles and a guard shack, slashed tires on government property, and fired shots at responding police officers. One Alvarado police officer was struck in the neck or shoulder by gunfire but survived. Prosecutors presented evidence of weeks of planning, including coordination via communications and reconnaissance, framing the assault as a premeditated act inspired by Antifa ideology aimed at disrupting federal immigration enforcement.

A federal jury in Fort Worth convicted nine defendants in March 2026 following a multi-week trial that featured testimony from more than 45 witnesses and over 210 exhibits. Charges included rioting, providing material support to terrorists, conspiracy to use and carry explosives, using and carrying explosives, attempted murder of officers, discharging firearms during violent crimes, and related obstruction and conspiracy counts. Seven additional individuals had previously pleaded guilty to providing material support to terrorists.

U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould described the defendants as “North Texas Antifa Cell operatives” convicted for rioting, using weapons and explosives, and attempting to murder officers at the facility. FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized the bureau’s commitment to dismantling Antifa networks, stating that acts of violence against law enforcement would not be tolerated. Attorney General Pamela Bondi characterized Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization that had been allowed to operate in Democrat-led cities but was now facing systematic dismantling under the Trump administration.

Sentencing hearings before Judges Mark Pittman and Reed O’Connor resulted in the following terms for the eight convicted defendants:

• Benjamin Hanil Song (ringleader): convicted of attempted murder of officers, discharging firearms during violent crimes, rioting, and providing material support to terrorists; sentenced to 100 years.
• Maricela Rueda: convicted on rioting, explosives, and terrorism support charges; sentenced to 70 years.
• Autumn Hill (Cameron Arnold): convicted of rioting, weapons, and conspiracy charges; sentenced to 50 years.
• Zachary Evetts: convicted of rioting, explosives use, and material support to terrorists; sentenced to 50 years.
• Savanna Batten: convicted on similar rioting, firearms, and terrorism support counts; sentenced to 50 years.
• Meagan Morris (Bradford Morris): convicted of rioting and providing material support; sentenced to 50 years.
• Elizabeth Soto: convicted of conspiracy, explosives, and rioting; sentenced to 50 years.
• Daniel Rolando Sanchez-Estrada: convicted of rioting and related obstruction charges; sentenced to 30 years.

Collectively, the sentences totaled around 450 years. The case drew attention as a test of federal efforts to prosecute Antifa-linked violence, with authorities linking evidence through DNA, fingerprints, phone records, and witness accounts. Defense arguments portrayed the event as beginning as a noise demonstration in solidarity with detainees, but prosecutors successfully argued it escalated into a coordinated terrorist act.

The sentencings underscore the Trump administration’s focus on countering domestic extremism and protecting federal facilities. Officials have indicated this case represents part of broader efforts to hold accountable groups engaging in violence against law enforcement and immigration infrastructure. The defendants, many in their 20s, now face lengthy federal prison terms as authorities continue investigations into Antifa networks.