Protest Sentence Fallout
Texas Protesters Sentenced to Decades in Prison After Immigration Center Shooting, Raising Free Speech Concerns
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Eight protesters accused of ties to antifa have been sentenced to decades in federal prison for a shooting outside a Texas immigration detention center on July 4, 2025. Benjamin Hanil Song, a former Marine Corps reservist identified as the group's leader, received the maximum sentence of 100 years, according to AP. The other seven defendants received terms ranging from 30 to 70 years.
The case marks the first major federal domestic terrorism trial to use "material support to terrorism" charges against individuals allegedly tied to the antifa movement, PBS reported. Civil rights groups warn the verdict could chill future protest activity across the United States.
A Fourth of July Attack Outside an ICE Facility
Just after midnight on July 4, 2025, a group dressed in "black bloc" tactical gear arrived at the Prairieland ICE Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas. They launched commercial-grade fireworks, vandalized vehicles with spray-painted slogans, and opened fire as officers responded, CBS News reported. Lt. Thomas Gross of the Alvarado Police Department was shot in the neck. He survived.
A 12-day manhunt followed. Authorities arrested 12 suspects, with Song captured last after a week-long search. A federal grand jury later indicted nine people on charges from rioting to attempted murder. Seven others pleaded guilty to "material support for terrorism" before trial. The jury convicted eight defendants on terrorism-related charges in March 2026, according to Courthouse News Service.
100-Year Sentence for Alleged Cell Leader Song
U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor called the July 4 attack "an assault on democracy" and cited a strong need for deterrence, smdailyjournal.com reported. Song, 32, was sentenced to the statutory maximum of 100 years. Cameron Arnold and Zachary Evetts each received 50 years. Other defendants got terms between 30 and 70 years.
Song's defense attorney, Philip Hayes, argued his client lived an "impeccable life" and planned only a "peaceful noise demonstration." Song's mother, Hope Song, disputed claims that her son fired the shot that wounded the officer. Supporters outside the federal courthouse in Fort Worth condemned the sentences as excessive.
How a Protest Charge Became a Terrorism Case
Prosecutors used a federal statute — 18 U.S.C. § 2339A — historically reserved for groups like Al-Qaeda. They argued the law applies here because the defendants provided "material support" for specific violent crimes. Prosecutors presented over 210 exhibits and testimony from 45 witnesses during the 12-day trial, according to Texas Scorecard. Evidence included encrypted Signal messages and Faraday bags used to block phone tracking.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi said the verdict is part of a plan to "systematically dismantle" antifa nationwide. FBI Director Kash Patel called it the first use of material support charges against antifa-linked individuals. U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould said the attack was not protected free speech. "This was a vicious, armed attack," he stated, according to Joplin Globe.
Legal Experts Warn Case Could Threaten Protest Rights
Civil rights attorneys and legal analysts say the case sets a troubling precedent. Prosecutors labeled basic protest gear — black clothing, first-aid kits — as evidence of terrorism. Critics argue this logic could let the government brand any organized protest as a "terror cell," according to The Guardian.
The defendants all denied membership in antifa. They said they attended to support detained immigrants. Legal experts warn the successful use of § 2339A against domestic activists gives the Justice Department a powerful new tool — one that does not require proving formal membership in any group, Dayton Daily News noted. More prosecutions targeting similar activist networks are expected, Bondi indicated.
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