A federal trial opened Tuesday in Fort Worth that could define how courts handle the Trump administration's designation of antifa as a domestic terrorist organization, as nine defendants face terrorism-related charges stemming from an attack on an immigration detention facility.
Prosecutors allege members of a 'North Texas antifa cell' conspired to attack the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, on July 4, 2025, during which a police officer was shot. The incident has become the first major test case for federal terrorism prosecutions under President Donald Trump's controversial order designating antifa as a domestic terrorist organization.
'Make no mistake — there was nothing peaceful about what happened on July 4,' Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Smith told jurors during opening statements. The government claims the defendants approached the facility late at night, shooting fireworks and vandalizing property before the shooting occurred.
The nine defendants face a range of serious federal charges including rioting, providing material support to terrorists, use and carry of an explosive device, attempted murder of U.S. government employees, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. Benjamin Song is accused of firing the rifle that struck an Alvarado police officer nonfatally in the neck.
The other defendants are Zachary Evetts, Meagan Morris (also referred to as Bradford Morris), Elizabeth Soto, Ines Soto, Autumn Hill (also referred to as Cameron Arnold), Savanna Batten, and Maricela Rueda. While Song allegedly pulled the trigger, prosecutors are seeking to hold his co-defendants equally responsible under a legal theory known as the Pinkerton doctrine.
Under Pinkerton v. United States, a 1946 Supreme Court decision, participants in a conspiracy can be held criminally liable for crimes committed by co-conspirators that are 'reasonably foreseeable' in furtherance of the conspiracy. Smith argued it was reasonably foreseeable that Song would shoot a police officer during the alleged attack.
The case centers on the Prairieland Detention Center, which houses people in immigration custody for the Department of Homeland Security. According to the government's indictment, unarmed DHS correctional officers came outside to investigate the disturbance when the Alvarado police officer arrived and was subsequently shot.
Antifa, short for antifascist, refers to a decentralized movement of activist groups that oppose fascism, racism, and far-right extremism. No formal antifa organization exists, making Trump's designation of the movement as a domestic terrorist organization legally complex and politically contentious.
Defense attorneys are expected to argue that the prosecution represents an attempt to criminalize political dissent and that the terrorism charges are inappropriate for what they characterize as a protest that escalated. Critics of the Trump administration's antifa designation have long argued that it targets legitimate political activism.
The trial comes as federal prosecutors have increasingly pursued terrorism-related charges in cases involving political violence. The government must prove both that a conspiracy existed among the defendants and that their actions meet the legal threshold for terrorism charges.
The material support for terrorism charge is particularly significant, as it typically applies to cases involving international terrorist organizations. Using it against domestic activists represents a notable expansion of how federal prosecutors apply terrorism statutes.
The case also highlights ongoing tensions around immigration enforcement facilities, which have been targets of protests by activists opposing federal immigration policies. The Prairieland Detention Center is operated by a private company under contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
For the defendants, conviction on the most serious charges could result in lengthy federal prison sentences. The attempted murder charge alone carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years, while the terrorism-related charges could add additional decades.
The trial is expected to last several weeks as prosecutors present evidence of the alleged conspiracy and defense attorneys challenge both the factual allegations and the legal theories underlying the charges. The government will need to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendants knowingly participated in a conspiracy and that their actions constitute the charged offenses.
Legal observers are watching closely to see whether federal courts will embrace the Trump administration's approach to prosecuting antifa activists under terrorism statutes. The outcome could influence how similar cases are handled in other jurisdictions and whether the domestic terrorism designation gains traction in federal courts.
The trial continues Wednesday with the prosecution expected to begin presenting evidence to support its conspiracy theory. The case represents a significant moment in the ongoing debate over how the federal government should respond to politically motivated violence.