Prairieland Anti-ICE Protesters Given Lengthy Prison Sentences
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Fifteen defendants convicted in connection with the 2025 anti-ICE protest outside the Prairieland Detention Center in northern Texas were sentenced to federal prison terms ranging from 22 months to 100 years.
Federal judges sentenced eight of the defendants on June 23 and the remaining seven on July 1. The convictions included attempted murder, rioting, and providing material support for terrorism. The state argued that the defendants participated in a “coordinated attack” on the Prairieland Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Alvarado, Texas, on July 4, 2025, during which an Alvarado police officer was shot and lightly wounded. The defendants and their supporters maintain they were conducting a peaceful noise demonstration involving fireworks. 22 people were ultimately arrested in connection with the case.
Benjamin Song, a former Marine reservist, was given the lengthiest sentence of 100 years in prison. Prosecutors argued that Song was the lead organizer of the protest and the individual who fired at and hit the police officer. In a closing statement, Song, for the first time, explained his motivations:
“What we all saw happen to Renee Good and Alex Pretti is my worst nightmare,” said Song. “When I saw Lieutenant Thomas Gross stop pursuing and point his gun at the back of a running, unarmed protester, like he testified, I was terrified. […] As a firearms instructor and a United States Marine Corps Veteran, I understood what I was seeing. I knew what it meant for someone to lean forward into a gun, […] to prepare for recoil. […] It is impossible to say that I was trying to ambush anyone or planning violence.”
Ines Soto, Zachary Evetts, Autumn Hill, Savanna Batten, Elizabeth Soto, and Meagan Morris were all sentenced to 50 years in prison. Maricela Rueda, another demonstrator, was sentenced to 70 years, and Daniel Rolando Sanchez Estrada was sentenced to 30 years on charges connected to possession and movement of radical literature in the form of anarchist pamphlets. Joy Gibson and Rebecca Morgan were sentenced to 15 years. Lynette Sharp and John Thomas were sentenced to 110 months. Seth Sikes was sentenced to six years.
Nathan Baumann, who was convicted for the bulk of the vandalism that took place during the protest, was sentenced to a much shorter 22 months. The vandalism is one of the state’s main justifications for allegations of terrorism and rioting. The defendants report that they did not know Baumann until the day of the protest.
All defendants will be required to “jointly and separately” pay $4,408.95 to the Prairieland Detention Center.
Outside of the courthouse in Fort Worth, family members and supporters of the defendants criticized the unusual and excessive sentences. In a statement released after the sentencing, the advocacy group Support the Prairieland Defendants said relatives and community members viewed the punishments as “cruel” and “starkly disproportionate” to the defendants’ actions, and pledged to continue legal and public support.
In December of last year, the Trump administration ordered police to investigate individuals and groups based on “antifa” (short for antifascist) ideology rather than purported illegal activity. This order has allowed prosecutors to add terrorism enhancements to simple charges, including trespassing and obstruction of justice. Additionally, common practices such as transporting literature and deleting messages have been cast as felony obstruction with terrorism enhancements, leading to lengthy prison sentences.
Image: Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas. Credit: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service.
