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By Jenna Sundel and Jason Lemon
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A group of Antifa-inspired defendants accused of attacking Texas' Prairieland ICE detention center in 2025 was found guilty by a jury on Friday and convicted of terrorism related charges.
The eight individuals were accused by prosecutors of carrying out a premeditated attack against the Alvarado facility. They shot at police officers during the attack, hitting one of the officers in the neck. The officer survived, but the attackers also used fireworks and vandalized the facility.
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Why It Matters
President Donald Trump signed an executive order to designate antifa as a domestic terrorist organization in September of last year.
"Antifa is a militarist, anarchist enterprise that explicitly calls for the overthrow of the United States Government, law enforcement authorities, and our system of law," the order states.
Short for “anti-fascists,” antifa is not a single organization but rather an umbrella term for far-left-leaning militant groups that confront or resist neo-Nazis and white supremacists at demonstrations, according to the Associated Press.
The first charges in this case were filed weeks after the designation.
Defense attorneys said the defendants were not members of antifa and the trial sought to wrongly punish a group of political demonstrators. The defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Several people have already pleaded guilty to providing material support to terrorists after being accused of supporting antifa in connection with the incident.
Antifa-Inspired Group Convicted: What We Know
A group of people wearing black attire and masks, with some carrying firearms and wearing body armor, shot fireworks toward ICE's Prairieland Detention Facility and vandalized vehicles and a guard shed on July 4, 2025, according to the indictment.
As local law enforcement officers responded, one person said, “Get to the rifles,” and opened fire, striking the officer, the indictment said.
The officer who was shot, Alvarado police Lieutenant Thomas Gross, was the first witness to testify in the trial.
Gross said he was responding to a call from the detention center when he saw graffiti on a guard shed and a stop sign and noticed a guard chasing a person clad in black with their face covered. He said he exited his vehicle and saw another person, also clad in black with their face covered, carrying a rifle.
“At this point, the scene is becoming extremely chaotic,” he said.
He told jurors he was shot with a round that went into his shoulder and out of his neck.
Where is Prairieland ICE Detention Center?
ICE's Prairieland Detention Facility is located in Alvarado, Texas.
Who Are the Defendants in the Trial?
Autumn Hill (formerly known as Cameron Arnold) was found guilty on counts of riot, providing material support to terrorists, explosive conspiracy, and use and carry of explosives. Hill was found not guilty on counts of attempted murder of an officer and discharging a firearm during a violent crime.
Zachary Evetts was found guilty on counts of riot, providing material support to terrorists, explosive conspiracy, and use and carry of explosives. Evetts was found not guilty on counts of attempted murder of an officer and discharging a firearm during a violent crime.
Benjamin Song was found guilty on counts of riot, providing material support to terrorists, explosive conspiracy, and use and carry of explosives. He was also found guilty on one count of attempted murder of an officer and charges of discharging a firearm. Song was found not guilty on two additional counts of attempted murder of an officer.
Savanna Batten was found guilty on counts of riot, providing material support to terrorists, explosive conspiracy, and use and carry of explosives.
Meagan Morris (formerly known as Bradford Morris) was found guilty on counts of riot, providing material support to terrorists, explosive conspiracy, and use and carry of explosives. Morris was found not guilty on counts of attempted murder of an officer and discharging a firearm during a violent crime.
Maricela Rueda was found guilty on counts of riot, providing material support to terrorists, explosive conspiracy, use and carry of explosives, and conspiracy to conceal documents. Rueda was found not guilty on counts of attempted murder of an officer and discharging a firearm during a violent crime.
Elizabeth Soto and Ines Soto were found guilty on counts of riot, providing material support to terrorists, explosive conspiracy, and use and carry of explosives.
A ninth defendant, Daniel Rolando Sanchez‑Estrada, was found guilty of corruptly concealing a document and conspiracy to conceal documents.
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