Judge declares mistrial in Texas ICE detention facility shooting case

A U.S. federal judge in Fort Worth declared a mistrial in the case against nine people connected to a shooting outside an ICE detention facility in Alvarado, Texas, last year.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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A U.S. federal judge in Fort Worth declared a mistrial Tuesday in the case against nine people connected to a shooting outside an ICE detention facility in Alvarado, Texas, last year.

Why it matters

The case has raised concerns about the use of force and treatment of detainees at ICE facilities, as well as the broader debate around immigration enforcement policies.

The details

The judge declared a mistrial after the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on the charges against the nine defendants, who were accused of opening fire on the ICE detention facility in Alvarado, Texas, in an incident last year.

  • The shooting incident occurred last year outside the ICE detention facility in Alvarado, Texas.

The players

ICE

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the federal law enforcement agency responsible for immigration enforcement.

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What’s next

The judge will now have to decide whether to retry the case or dismiss the charges.

The takeaway

This mistrial highlights the ongoing tensions and controversies surrounding immigration enforcement and detention policies in the United States.