Mistrial declared in Prairieland ICE detention facility shooting case

Jury selection ended abruptly due to a defense lawyer's shirt featuring civil rights leaders

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The federal trial of nine defendants accused of taking part in a July 4 attack outside an immigration detention center in Alvarado, Texas did not even make it past jury selection. U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman declared a mistrial on the first day of trial, reportedly because of a shirt worn by one of the defense lawyers that featured images of Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders.

Why it matters

The Prairieland case is seen as a protest case involving people expressing solidarity with detained immigrants. The federal government is trying to reframe protest activity as terrorism, which is an issue being seen across the country in cities like Chicago, Minneapolis, Portland, and now in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

The details

The defendants on trial were Cameron Arnold, Zachary Evetts, Benjamin Hanil Song, Savanna Batten, Bradford Morris, Maricela Rueda, Elizabeth Soto, Ines Soto, and Daniel Rolando Sanchez Estrada. Prosecutors called the July 4 incident a terrorist act, alleging the group began 'shooting fireworks and vandalizing government property' and that at least one person fired on officers, striking an Alvarado police officer. The defendants' supporters said they were protesting conditions at the Prairieland Detention Center.

  • On July 4, 2025, the incident occurred outside the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas.
  • On February 18, 2026, the mistrial was declared during jury selection on the first day of the federal trial.

The players

Judge Mark Pittman

The U.S. District Judge who declared the mistrial.

MarQuetta Clayton

A lawyer for defendant Maricela Rueda who wore a shirt featuring images of civil rights leaders, which reportedly led to the mistrial.

DFW Support Committee

A group of friends, family and supporters from North Texas and Austin who organized last summer to help and support the defendants.

Amber Lowrey

The sister of defendant Savanna Batten.

Evan Grace

A representative from a community organization called Fire Ant Movement Defense who criticized the judge's handling of the trial.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The Prairieland case is a protest case involving people expressing solidarity with detained immigrants. The federal government is trying to reframe protest activity as terrorism, and we're seeing this attempted across the country, in Chicago, Minneapolis, Portland, and now here in Dallas-Fort Worth.”

— Amber Lowrey, Sister of defendant Savanna Batten (News release)

“Using an homage to the late Reverend Jesse Jackson to unilaterally dismiss a jury deemed too sympathetic, in a case in which the right to protest is on trial, is an affront to the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement.”

— Evan Grace, Representative from Fire Ant Movement Defense (News release)

What’s next

The judge has not yet scheduled a date for the new trial to begin. The U.S. Attorney's Office has said it will continue to pursue the charges against the defendants.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between the federal government's efforts to crack down on protest activity and the defendants' claims that they were peacefully demonstrating in solidarity with detained immigrants. The mistrial raises questions about the judge's handling of the case and the broader implications for the right to protest.