Eight Sentenced to Long Terms for Texas Immigration Center Attack
WHO:
CNN - Philip Hayes, attorney for Benjamin Song, stated, “Song, aside from this day, has had an impeccable life. A former Marine. A good student.”
AP News - Lydia Koza expressed her anger, stating, “I am livid. The government wants to take her entire life away because she attended a protest. Nobody died.”
CNN - Daniel Sanchez Estrada was convicted of corruptly concealing a document and conspiracy to conceal documents.
CNN - Other defendants pleaded guilty to providing material support to terrorists rather than take their case to trial.
ABC News - Lydia Koza expressed anger over her wife Autumn Hill's 50-year sentence, stating, “The government wants to take her entire life away because she attended a protest. Nobody died.”
AP News - Autumn Hill described the gathering as “seemed more like a party to me than anything else” and stated that she and others “didn’t expect or want any violence or destruction of property to occur.”
CNN - Benjamin Song, a demonstrator and former Marine.
CNN - Philip Hayes, attorney for Benjamin Song.
CNN - Daniel Sanchez Estrada, one of the defendants.
CNN - Eight protesters accused of links to antifa.
WHAT:
ABC News - Benjamin Song was convicted of attempted murder last March after prosecutors say he opened fire and wounded a police officer at the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado.
IJR - Benjamin Song was sentenced to 100 years in prison for a 2025 terrorist attack on an immigration facility.
AP News - The eight defendants received a combined total of 450 years in prison for their involvement in the ambush at the Texas immigration center.
Newsweek - The Trump administration touted the sentencing as part of their efforts in "dismantling" Antifa.
IJR - Benjamin Song was identified as the leader of the antifa cell involved in the attack.
AP News - The Justice Department referred to this case as the first sentencing of “defendants affiliated with” antifa after Trump signed an executive order designating it as a domestic terrorist organization.
AP - U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor stated that the events were "an assault on democracy."
AP - The maximum sentence of 100 years was given to Benjamin Song, while the other seven defendants received sentences ranging from 30 to 70 years.
AP - Lydia Koza, whose wife Autumn Hill received a 50-year sentence, expressed her anger, stating, “The government wants to take her entire life away because she attended a protest. Nobody died.”
AP - Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated, “The sentences handed down today make clear that Antifa terrorists who attack law enforcement and federal facilities will face swift and uncompromising justice.”
BBC News - Eight individuals were sentenced to a total of 450 years in prison for their involvement in the ambush at the Texas immigration center where an officer was shot in the neck.
IJR - Benjamin Song was sentenced to 100 years in prison for a 2025 terrorist attack on an immigration facility.
Fox News - Eight accused protesters were sentenced to decades in federal prison for a violent ambush at a North Texas ICE detention center.
CNN - Benjamin Song was sentenced to 100 years in federal prison for attempted murder after shooting and wounding a police officer.
CNN - Seven other protesters received prison terms ranging from 30 to 70 years.
CNN - Some defendants pleaded guilty to providing material support to terrorists.
WHERE:
CNN - Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas.
CNN - Federal courthouse in Fort Worth, Texas.
WHEN:
CNN - Sentencing occurred on a Tuesday.
CNN - Benjamin Song was convicted of attempted murder last March.
WHY:
AP News - U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor stated, “The need to deter this type of conduct is high.”
AP News - Prosecutor Frank Gatto urged the judge to impose stiff penalties, stating, “People with that kind of extremist beliefs need extra time in prison. They believe violence is justified.”
AP News - U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor stated, “The need to deter this type of conduct is high.”
Fox News - The judge described the ambush as "an assault on democracy."
CNN - Prosecutors claim the eight are members of antifa, which has been targeted by the Trump administration.
CNN - Philip Hayes stated that the defendants wanted their voices to be heard and did not intend to cause harm.
HOW:
AP News - Prosecutors claimed that the group’s actions included bringing firearms, first aid kits, and wearing body armor, which were signals of nefarious intent.
AP News - Prosecutors claimed the group’s actions included bringing firearms, first aid kits, and wearing body armor, which were signals of nefarious intent.
AP News - Prosecutors claimed that the group’s actions included bringing firearms, first aid kits, and wearing body armor, which were signals of nefarious intent.
AP - Prosecutors claimed that the group’s actions included bringing firearms, first aid kits, and wearing body armor, which were signals of nefarious intent.
CNN - Benjamin Song opened fire during a protest outside the immigration center.
(UPDATED June 24, 2026 15:48 UTC)
Benjamin Song, who was convicted of attempted murder for wounding a police officer at the Prairieland Detention Center, has been sentenced to 100 years in prison for a 2025 terrorist attack on an immigration facility. His attorney, Philip Hayes, described Song as having an impeccable life, while Lydia Koza expressed her anger over the severity of the sentence, arguing that attending a protest should not warrant such a harsh punishment. U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor emphasized the importance of deterring extremist conduct, noting the need for stiff penalties for those who justify violence.
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(UPDATED June 24, 2026 13:40 UTC)
Daniel Sanchez Estrada has been convicted of corruptly concealing a document and conspiracy to conceal documents, while other defendants opted to plead guilty to providing material support to terrorists instead of facing trial. The eight defendants involved in the ambush at the Texas immigration center received a combined total of 450 years in prison, with U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor emphasizing the high need to deter such conduct. Prosecutors highlighted that the group's actions, which included bringing firearms and wearing body armor, indicated their nefarious intent.
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(UPDATED June 24, 2026 10:04 UTC)
Lydia Koza has publicly expressed her anger over her wife Autumn Hill's 50-year sentence, arguing that the government is trying to take her entire life away simply for attending a protest where, as Hill described, the gathering felt more like a party than anything else. The Justice Department has referred to this case as the first sentencing of defendants affiliated with antifa, following President Trump's executive order that designated the group as a domestic terrorist organization, with Benjamin Song identified as the leader of the involved cell. Prosecutors alleged that the group's actions included bringing firearms, first aid kits, and wearing body armor, which they claimed indicated nefarious intent.
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(UPDATED June 24, 2026 06:21 UTC)
U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor described recent events as "an assault on democracy," as he handed down a maximum sentence of 100 years to Benjamin Song, while the other seven defendants received sentences ranging from 30 to 70 years. Lydia Koza, whose wife Autumn Hill was sentenced to 50 years, expressed her outrage, saying, “The government wants to take her entire life away because she attended a protest. Nobody died.” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized that the sentences reflect a commitment to swift and uncompromising justice for those he labeled as Antifa terrorists who attacked law enforcement and federal facilities, with prosecutors noting that the group came prepared with firearms, first aid kits, and body armor.
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(UPDATED June 24, 2026 04:22 UTC)
Eight individuals have been sentenced to a total of 450 years in prison for their roles in the ambush at a Texas immigration center, where an officer was shot in the neck. The sentencing reflects the severity of the crime and the impact it had on the community. This decision marks a significant step in addressing the violence faced by law enforcement in such situations.
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(UPDATED June 23, 2026 23:23 UTC)
Benjamin Song has been sentenced to 100 years in prison for his role in a terrorist attack on an immigration facility that took place in 2025. Additionally, eight accused protesters received lengthy federal prison sentences for their involvement in a violent ambush at a North Texas ICE detention center, which a judge condemned as "an assault on democracy." These sentences reflect the serious nature of the crimes and the judicial system's response to such acts of violence.
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(UPDATED June 23, 2026 17:39 UTC)
Benjamin Song, a demonstrator and former Marine, has been sentenced to 100 years in federal prison for attempted murder after he shot and wounded a police officer during a protest outside an immigration center. Alongside him, seven other protesters received prison terms ranging from 30 to 70 years, with some defendants pleading guilty to providing material support to terrorists. The sentencing took place at a federal courthouse in Fort Worth, Texas, where prosecutors argued that the eight individuals are linked to antifa, a group that has faced scrutiny from the Trump administration.