Nine Antifa Members Convicted in Armed July 4 Attack on Texas ICE Detention Center

Fort Worth, TX. — A federal jury has convicted nine members of a North Texas Antifa cell for their roles in a violent July 4, 2025 attack on the Prairieland ICE Detention Center in Alvarado, according to federal prosecutors.

The verdict followed a 12 day trial in U.S. District Court in Fort Worth, where jurors heard testimony from more than 45 witnesses and reviewed over 210 pieces of evidence related to the incident. Defendants Cameron Arnold, Zachary Evetts, Benjamin Song, Savanna Batten, Bradford Morris, Maricela Rueda, Elizabeth Soto, Ines Soto, and Daniel Rolando Sanchez Estrada were convicted on various charges including rioting, providing material support to terrorists, explosives offenses, obstruction, and attempted murder.

Seven additional individuals — Seth Sikes, Nathan Baumann, Joy Gibson, Susan Kent, Rebecca Morgan, Lynette Sharp, and John Thomas — previously pleaded guilty to providing material support to terrorists in connection with the case.

Prosecutors said the group planned and carried out a coordinated attack late on July 4 targeting the federal detention facility used by the Department of Homeland Security to house immigrants awaiting deportation. According to evidence presented at trial, members arrived wearing “black bloc” clothing designed to conceal their identities and brought firearms, body armor, fireworks, and medical supplies.

During the attack, participants allegedly fired weapons, launched fireworks at the facility, vandalized property, and damaged vehicles and security equipment. Authorities said Benjamin Song opened fire on responding officers after yelling to others to retrieve rifles, striking an Alvarado police officer in the neck. The officer survived.

Evidence presented in court included encrypted group chats, fingerprint evidence, and phone location data showing coordinated planning. Prosecutors said members used encrypted messaging apps with auto delete features and sometimes placed phones in Faraday bags to avoid tracking.

Investigators also testified that some defendants attended a daytime protest at the detention center earlier that day and reported back details about security at the facility.

Song faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and could receive life. Seven other defendants convicted of riot and material support charges face minimum sentences of 10 years and up to 60 years in prison. Sanchez Estrada faces up to 40 years for obstruction related charges.

Sentencing for all 16 defendants is pending before U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman.

The case was investigated by the FBI Dallas Field Office, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Alvarado Police Department, and the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. Federal prosecutors from the Northern District of Texas handled the case.