Jury Selection Underway in Federal Trial for 9 Alleged ICE Facility Attackers

The defendants are accused of a violent, coordinated incident at a Texas immigration detention center.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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Jury selection is underway in the federal trial of nine defendants who the Department of Justice alleges are part of an "Antifa cell" and are charged in connection with a violent incident at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Alvarado, Texas on July 4th. Prosecutors claim the group carried out a coordinated attack that left an Alvarado police officer shot in the neck, though the officer survived. The defendants face a range of federal charges, including attempted murder of a federal officer, while five others have already pleaded guilty in the case.

Why it matters

This high-profile trial is seen as a test case for the federal government's crackdown on alleged left-wing extremist groups, with the DOJ labeling the defendants as an "Antifa cell." The outcome could set precedents for how similar cases are prosecuted in the future.

The details

According to officials, the jury selection process is expected to take most of the day and possibly into Wednesday. Prosecutors allege the group carried out a violent, coordinated attack at the Prairieland ICE detention facility, while a group supporting the defendants claims the incident was not a terrorist attack but rather a "noise demonstration in solidarity with detainees." The nine defendants face a range of federal charges, including attempted murder of a federal officer, while five others have already pleaded guilty in the case. Some of those who pleaded guilty could potentially testify, which legal experts say could shape how the trial unfolds.

  • Jury selection for the trial began on February 17, 2026.
  • The jury selection process is expected to take most of the day and possibly into February 18, 2026.

The players

Kash Patel

FBI Director who said the defendants were "anarchist violent extremists."

Paul Coggins

A former U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas who commented on the possibility of defendants who pleaded guilty testifying in the trial.

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What they’re saying

“The defendants were "anarchist violent extremists.”

— Kash Patel, FBI Director (X)

“One or more of those defendants may try to provide assistance to the government... so you'll have to see if any of those who have pled guilty end up on the witness stand.”

— Paul Coggins, Former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas (CBS News)

What’s next

The judge will determine if any of the defendants who pleaded guilty will testify during the trial, which could significantly shape how the case unfolds.

The takeaway

This trial is a high-stakes test case for the federal government's crackdown on alleged left-wing extremist groups, with the outcome potentially setting precedents for how similar cases are prosecuted in the future.