Texas Jury Convicts 8 on Terror Charges in Immigration Facility Shooting

A federal jury in Fort Worth convicted eight individuals on terrorism charges following a shooting incident at a Texas immigration detention center. The case marks the first time federal prosecutors have used material support for terrorism charges against alleged antifa members.

FORT WORTH, Texas — Eight individuals were found guilty Friday on federal terrorism charges stemming from a shooting incident at a Texas immigration detention facility that prosecutors linked to the far-left antifa movement.

A federal jury also convicted one defendant of attempted murder after authorities say he fired shots last summer outside the Prairieland Detention Center near Fort Worth, injuring a police officer. Justice Department officials described the incident as a coordinated assault by antifa activists, though defense lawyers disputed this claim, arguing their clients were participating in a peaceful demonstration with fireworks when gunfire erupted.

The nearly three-week trial was overseen by U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman, a Trump appointee, and drew attention from legal observers who viewed it as a benchmark for how far federal authorities might go in prosecuting demonstrators.

According to FBI Director Kash Patel, this marked the first instance where material support for terrorism charges were brought against individuals allegedly connected to antifa.

“Today’s verdict on terrorism charges will not be the last as the Trump administration systematically dismantles Antifa and finally halts their violence on America’s streets,” U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said.

Antifa, which stands for “anti-fascists,” represents a loose network of far-left militant groups that oppose neo-Nazis and white supremacists at rallies and demonstrations rather than a centralized organization.

Defense lawyers argued before jurors that no violent plan existed for the July 4 gathering outside the Alvarado facility.

Nine defendants faced trial total, with eight charged with providing material support to terrorists along with additional counts. Daniel Sanchez Estrada, the ninth defendant, was charged with corruptly concealing documents and conspiracy to conceal documents, receiving guilty verdicts on both counts.

Estrada’s lawyer, Christopher Weinbel, expressed disbelief at the jury’s decision. Weinbel, who served multiple Army deployments defending the United States, said he hoped his sacrifices “meant something.”

“But I feel like it turned its back on justice with this. … The U.S. lost today with this verdict,” Weinbel said.

During closing statements, prosecutor Shawn Smith argued that the defendants’ preparations — including bringing weapons, medical supplies, and protective gear — demonstrated malicious intentions. He claimed they employed “antifa tactics” and showed obsession with “operational security.”

Defense attorneys maintained there was no planned attack and that demonstrators who carried firearms did so purely for self-defense.

The terrorism charges came after Trump’s directive last fall declaring antifa a domestic terrorist organization. Unlike the State Department’s foreign terrorist organization list, no domestic equivalent exists, partly due to First Amendment protections for U.S.-based groups.

Legal experts worry the case’s outcome could significantly impact future protests.

“That opposition is something that the government wants to squash so a case like this helps the government kind of see how far they can go in criminalizing constitutionally protected protests and also helps them kind of intimidate, increase the fear, hoping that folks in other cities then will think twice over protesting,” said Suzanne Adely, interim president of the National Lawyers Guild, a progressive legal group.

Defense attorneys said most protesters had begun departing when two facility guards emerged, which occurred before any shooting started.

Prosecutors alleged that Benjamin Song, a former Marine Corps reservist, shouted “get to the rifles” before opening fire and wounding a police officer who had just arrived at the scene.

While Song was the shooter, prosecutors also charged several other protesters with attempted murder and firearm discharge, though jurors acquitted them of these charges. The prosecution argued that based on the group’s planning, the other defendants should have anticipated potential violence.

Alvarado Police Lt. Thomas Gross, the wounded officer, testified about responding to the scene and encountering a person dressed entirely in black with a covered face carrying a rifle. He told jurors a bullet entered his shoulder and exited through his neck.

Song’s attorney, Phillip Hayes, argued during closing statements that no call to violence occurred before Gross arrived and “aggressively” drew his weapon. Hayes contended that Song fired “suppressive fire” and that a ricocheting bullet struck the officer.

Before the trial began, several individuals pleaded guilty to providing material support to terrorists after being accused of supporting antifa. They could receive up to 15 years in prison when sentenced.

Some of these individuals testified for the prosecution, including Seth Sikes, who said he went to the detention center hoping to bring comfort to those detained inside.

“I felt like I was doing the right thing,” he said.