On March 13, 2026, a federal jury convicted 8 of 9 defendants on terrorism-related charges for their roles in a July 4, 2025 protest outside the Prairieland ICE Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas. This is the first domestic terrorism case targeting alleged 'antifa' members since Trump declared antifa a domestic terrorist threat.
The protest was a late-night noise demonstration outside the ICE facility that ended when defendant Benjamin Song shot Alvarado Police Lt. Thomas Gross in the neck (non-fatal). Song was convicted of attempted murder. However, the other eight defendants — who did not fire any weapons — were convicted of rioting, providing material support to terrorists, conspiracy to use explosives, and use of explosives. The 'explosives' in question were fireworks.
Prosecutors argued that wearing black clothing at the protest constituted 'material support' for terrorism because it 'provided your body as camouflage' for the shooter. An Islamophobic think tank — the Center for Security Policy, designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center — helped write the indictment language. Its researcher Kyle Shideler testified as a government expert witness and admitted: 'I told them what I believed to be an accurate definition of antifa, and they used it.'
Defense attorney Blake Burns told the jury: 'They're here asking you guys to put protesters in prison as terrorists. That's not happened before.' Another defense attorney argued his client was 'on trial for two things: Carrying a box, and conspiracy to carry a box.'