15 defendants get total of 556 years in Prairieland ICE center terrorism case

Fifteen defendants have been sentenced in a domestic terrorism case tied to a July 4, 2025, protest at the Prairieland ICE Detention Center in North Texas, where an Alvarado police lieutenant was shot and wounded. Federal prosecutors called it the first domestic terrorism trial to result in convictions of alleged antifa cell members, while defense attorneys and families say the sentences criminalize peaceful protest.

Here are key takeaways:

• Benjamin Hanil Song received a 100-year federal prison sentence for attempted murder after shooting and wounding Alvarado police Lt. Thomas Gross during the July 4, 2025, incident at the detention center.
• Eight defendants sentenced on June 24 received a combined 450 years in prison, and their attorneys said appeals will be filed promptly.
• Seven additional defendants were sentenced in Fort Worth on Wednesday, July 1, to a combined 106 years. Of that group, Ines Soto received the longest sentence at 50 years, and Nathan Baumann received 22 months, the shortest sentence in the case.

• Song, Ines Soto and seven other defendants were convicted in a jury trial. Maricela Rueda was sentenced to 70 years, while Elizabeth Soto, Meagan Morris, Zachary Evetts, Savanna Batten and Autumn Hill each received 50-year sentences on charges including providing material support to terrorists and using explosives during a riot.
• Prosecutors argued Song planned an ambush, but Song said he fired after seeing Gross aim a gun at a fleeing protester, telling the court, “I did not want to hurt anyone” and that he never intended violence.
• Judge Mark Pittman said it was “by the grace of God” that no one died, noting Song fired 11 shots in seconds before the officer’s bullet jammed Song’s rifle.

• Families gathered outside the Eldon B. Mahon U.S. Courthouse on July 1 called it “a bleak day for justice”, with Hope Song, Benjamin’s mother, saying the case “was built on utter lies.”
• Defense attorneys and families warned the convictions set a dangerous precedent, noting similar antifa charges are now being filed against protesters in Minneapolis.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.