Antifa-linked group members receive decades-long sentences for Texas immigration facility attack

A Texas court has handed down lengthy prison sentences to eight individuals convicted in connection with a violent attack on a federal immigration detention facility last year, marking the culmination of a high-profile terrorism case that drew national attention.

The defendants were found guilty in March on terrorism-related charges stemming from an attack on the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, on July 4 of last year. Prosecutors argued that the group carried out a coordinated assault targeting law enforcement officers responding to disturbances outside the facility.

According to court records, the group initially used fireworks and vandalized vehicles before opening fire on officers who arrived at the scene. Authorities characterized the operation as a planned ambush designed to lure law enforcement into a vulnerable position.

Benjamin Song, identified by prosecutors as the leader of the group, received the harshest punishment. The former Marine was sentenced to 100 years in prison after being convicted for his role in the attack, including the shooting of a police officer.

Several co-defendants also received substantial prison terms. Maricela Rueda was sentenced to 70 years behind bars. Autumn Hill, Zachary Evetts, Savanna Batten, Meagan Morris, and Elizabeth Soto each received 50-year sentences. Daniel Rolando Sanchez-Estrada was sentenced to 30 years. A ninth defendant, Ines Soto, is scheduled to be sentenced on July 1.

Federal prosecutors have alleged that all nine defendants maintained connections to Antifa, a decentralized far-left activist movement. Following the attack, President Donald Trump designated Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization in 2025.

Evidence presented during the case pointed to ideological motivations behind the attack. Authorities cited anti-law-enforcement messages spray-painted on police vehicles and banners carrying anti-fascist and anti-oligarchy slogans recovered during the investigation.

Prosecutors also highlighted Song’s military experience and alleged role in training fellow activists in tactical and close-quarters combat techniques. Investigators said that a search of a Dallas residence shared by Song and Hill uncovered a cache of firearms. The home was reportedly occupied by several left-wing activists connected to a local Antifa-affiliated group.

Defense attorneys sought to challenge the government’s characterization of the incident, arguing that the defendants did not intend to cause physical harm. However, the jury ultimately sided with prosecutors, leading to convictions and the severe sentences announced this week.

The case stands as one of the most significant domestic terrorism prosecutions in Texas in recent years and reflects the federal government’s continued focus on politically motivated violence targeting law enforcement and federal facilities.