Nine convicted in North Texas ICE attack as Kash Patel issues warning to those who target federal officers

This post was originally published on this site.

Jurors delivered a mixed verdict Friday in the federal trial of nine people accused of carrying out a 2025 “ambush” attack on anICE detention facility in North Texas.

Nine defendants accused of being part of a North Texas “Antifa cell” were convicted by a federal jury in Fort Worth for their roles in the July 4, 2025, attack on the Prairieland ICE Detention Center, according to the U.S.Department of Justice (DOJ).

Jurors delivered the verdict around 2:30 p.m.Friday at the federal courthouse in Fort Worth following roughly a day and a half of deliberations,.

“The guilty verdicts in today’s case go to show this FBI’s 24/7 commitment to identifying, locating, and dismantling ANTIFA members and their networks,”FEDERAL AGENTS DEPLOY TEAR GAS, RUBBER BULLETS ON PROTESTERS OUTSIDE MINNEAPOLIS FEDERAL BUILDING

Law enforcement officers respond outside a detention facility in Alvarado, Texas, after an armed ambush.

Law enforcement officers gather outside the Prairieland Detention Center following an ambush in Alvarado, Texas, July 4, 2025.(Mark David Smith/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

During the 12-day trial, which began Feb.23, 2026, jurors heard testimony from more than 45 witnesses and reviewed over 210 exhibits tied to the charges against the nine defendants, the DOJ said.

Benjamin Song was convicted of the most serious charge —attempted murder— for shooting Alvarado Police Lt.

All but one of the nine defendants — Daniel Estrada �

ICE RE-ARRESTS TWO VENEZUELAN MEN AFTER FEDERAL JUDGE’S RELEASE ORDER

Benjamin Song, alleged Texas ICE attacker, poses for a mugshot

Benjamin Song was convicted of the most serious charge — attempted murder — for shooting Alvarado Police Lt.Thomas Gross(FBI)

Maricela Rueda was also convicted of conspiracy to conceal documents.

“Antifa is a domestic terrorist organization that has been allowed to flourish in Democrat-led cities — not under President Trump,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement.“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.”

LEFT INSISTS ANTIFA ISN’T A REAL ORGANIZATION DESPITE MULTIPLE VIOLENT, PUBLIC INCIDENTS: ‘MADE UP’

FBI Director Kash Patel speaks at a podium during a news conference inside the Justice Department.

FBI Director Kash Patel speaks during a news conference at the Department of Justice in Washington, DC, on Dec.4, 2025.(Daniel Heuer/AFP via Getty Images)

Authorities say the July 4, 2025, attack outside thePrairieland ICE Detention Facility in Alvaradoinvolved fireworks, damage to buildings and vehicles, and gunfire directed at officers.

onelink.me/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.

Prosecutors argued the attack was orchestrated by Song and carried out by members of aNorth Texas Antifa cell

Defense attorneys argued there was no ambush and said the defendants did not intend for any violence to occur.

“The calculated, violent attack at ICE’s Prairieland facility was an abhorrent way for antifa terrorists to ‘protest’ the way this agency enforces the law — but these verdicts make clear that those who choose violence over lawful expression will face the full force of the American justice system,” ICE Director Todd Lyons said in a statement.

Sophia was previously a business reporter covering finance, energy and tourism and has experience as a TV news producer.She graduated with a journalism degree in 2021 from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.Story tips can be sent to sophia.com.