A federal judge sentenced the leader of a North Texas Antifa cell to 100 years in prison Tuesday for his role in a violent attack on an immigration detention center last July.
Benjamin Hanil Song received the stiff term for the attempted murder of a law enforcement officer during the assault on the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas.
Seven other members of the group also drew long prison terms, bringing the total for the eight sentenced to 450 years.
The punishments came nearly one year after the July 4, 2025, incident and marked the first sentencings tied to President Trump’s executive order designating Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization.
How Prosecutors Linked the Antifa Group to the Prairieland Detention Center Attack
Song, who was described as the cell leader by prosecutors, was convicted after a 12-day trial in March. Jurors heard from 46 witnesses and reviewed more than 210 exhibits detailing the group’s actions that night.
Evidence showed that Song bought and sold guns, recruited members at gun ranges and training sessions, and led the assault.
The group targeted Prairieland, a facility that contains people awaiting deportation. Members arrived in black bloc, wearing dark clothing and face coverings to conceal identities.
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They came with 11 guns, body armor, and military-grade first aid kits with tourniquets. Many turned off their phones or used Faraday bags to prevent being tracked.
Once at the scene, they set off fireworks and explosives, shot at officers, and vandalized property including vehicles and a guard shack.
An Alvarado police officer was wounded in the exchange. DNA, fingerprints, and other evidence linked several defendants to items left behind.
Seven Other Defendants Receive Decades-Long Sentences
Sentences for the others ranged from 30 to 70 years. Maricela Rueda received 70 years. Cameron Arnold, Savanna Batten, Zachary Evetts, Bradford Morris (also known as Meagan Morris), and Elizabeth Soto each got 50 years.
Daniel Rolando Sanchez-Estrada drew 30 years. A ninth defendant, Ines Soto, will be sentenced July 1. Seven additional people pleaded guilty earlier to providing material support to terrorists and face sentencing on the same date.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the outcome showed that attacks on law enforcement and federal facilities would face serious consequences. “Their violent extremism has no place in our country,” he said in a statement.
FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized the bureau’s focus on dismantling such networks. “Acts of violence against our law enforcement partners will not be tolerated,” he said.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould for the Northern District of Texas called the actions a calculated assault far removed from protected speech.
Acting ICE Director David J. Venturella described it as an attack on officers doing difficult work in challenging conditions.
Defense Challenges Terrorism Designation as Appeals Loom
Prosecutors presented the defendants as part of a militant network opposed to U.S. immigration enforcement.
An expert witness described Antifa’s tactics as involving organized efforts to obstruct federal law through riots and confrontations, often aimed at ICE operations.
Trial evidence included “zines”, insurrectionary materials created and distributed by some of the group.
Defense attorneys have disputed the terrorism label, arguing it was a protest that escalated. Some plan to appeal the convictions and sentences.
The case unfolded as scrutiny of domestic extremism intensified. The designation of Antifa as a terrorist group by Trump in September 2025 gave federal authorities new tools to pursue related cases.
The Prairieland Center sits south of the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The attack occurred late at night as fireworks marked the holiday elsewhere.
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First responders’ quick action helped limit injuries, officials said. No detainees were reported hurt in the assault.
Sentencing hearings were handled by U.S. District Judge Mark T. Pittman and Chief U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor.
The lengthy terms indicate the gravity of the charges, which included rioting, use of weapons and explosives, obstruction, and material support for terrorists.
The rulings come as the Justice Department and FBI continue major efforts against domestic terrorism threats. Patel noted ongoing work to identify funding networks that sustain such groups.
The group’s decentralized structure has long complicated investigations, but prosecutors built the case around a specific cell’s coordinated actions.
