Eight sentenced to 450 years in prison over anti-ICE riot where officer was shot

June 24, 2026

Eight individuals prosecutors linked to Antifa received collective prison sentences totaling 450 years for their involvement in a violent protest at a Texas immigration detention facility on Independence Day. The harshest punishment went to Benjamin Hanil Song, a former Marine Corps reservist convicted of attempted murder of a police officer, who received 100 years, while others received sentences ranging from 30 to 70 years. The incident involved fireworks being fired and thrown at the Prairieland facility near Dallas, along with property vandalism, leading to charges including rioting, weapons violations, and material support of terrorism.

Who is affected

Benjamin Hanil Song (sentenced to 100 years)
Maricela Rueda (sentenced to 70 years)
Cameron Arnold/Autumn Hill (sentenced to 50 years)
Savanna Batten (sentenced to 50 years)
Zachary Evetts (sentenced to 50 years)
Bradford Morris/Meagan Morris (sentenced to 50 years)
Elizabeth Soto (sentenced to 50 years)
Daniel Rolando Sanchez-Estrada (sentenced to 30 years)
Ines Soto (awaiting sentencing)
Seven other defendants who pleaded guilty (awaiting sentencing)
The families of the defendants
The law enforcement officer who was shot at
Detained immigrants at the Prairieland facility

What action is being taken

No explicit ongoing actions are described in the article. The sentences have already been handed down, and the legal proceedings for the eight defendants are complete.

Why it matters

This case represents one of the most severe applications of domestic terrorism laws following President Trump's designation of Antifa as a terrorist organization. The extraordinarily long sentences—ranging from 30 to 100 years—signal a significant shift in how the justice system treats protest-related violence, particularly when connected to ideological movements labeled as terrorist organizations. The case raises important questions about proportionality in sentencing, the criminalization of political ideology, and the distinction between organized terrorist groups and loosely affiliated movements. It also demonstrates the heightened consequences protesters may face at immigration facilities and sends a strong deterrent message about attacks on law enforcement and federal property.

What's next

Ines Soto will be sentenced on July 1
Seven other defendants who pleaded guilty to providing material support to terrorists will be sentenced on July 1

Read full article from source: BBC