9 accused of antifa ties convicted, 8 on terror charges, in Texas ICE center shooting

Federal jury finds defendants guilty over attack on immigration detention facility that prosecutors tied to antifa movement

Mar. 14, 2026 at 6:51pm

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A federal jury in Dallas has convicted nine people, eight on terrorism charges, over a shooting at a Texas immigration detention center that prosecutors said was linked to the antifa movement. The Justice Department called the violence an attack plotted by antifa operatives, but defense attorneys denied any antifa associations, saying there was merely a demonstration with fireworks before gunshots broke out.

Why it matters

This case is seen as a test of the government's ability to crack down on left-wing protesters, with critics arguing the prosecution could have wide-reaching effects on constitutionally protected demonstrations. The terrorism charges were made possible by Trump's order to designate antifa as a domestic terrorist organization, even though antifa is not a centralized group.

The details

Eight of the nine defendants were convicted on charges of providing material support to terrorists, while the ninth was found guilty of concealing documents. Prosecutors argued the group's actions, including bringing firearms and wearing body armor, showed nefarious intent, but defense attorneys said protesters carried guns for protection in a state with lenient gun laws and that there was no planned ambush. The lone person who opened fire, Benjamin Song, was convicted of attempted murder of a police officer who was wounded in the shooting.

  • The shooting occurred outside the Prairieland Detention Center near Fort Worth, Texas on July 4.
  • The nearly three-week trial took place in Fort Worth and was presided over by U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman, a Trump appointee.

The players

Benjamin Song

A former Marine Corps reservist who was convicted of opening fire and wounding a police officer during the incident.

Phillip Hayes

The attorney for Benjamin Song, who argued his client's shots were 'suppressive fire' and a ricochet bullet hit the officer.

Shawn Smith

The prosecutor who told jurors the group's actions, including bringing firearms and wearing body armor, were signs of nefarious intent.

Suzanne Adely

The interim president of the National Lawyers Guild, a progressive legal group, who said the case could have wide-reaching effects on protests.

Seth Sikes

One of the defendants who pleaded guilty to providing material support to terrorists and testified for the prosecution, saying he went to the detention center to 'bring some joy' to those held inside.

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What they’re saying

“Today's verdict on terrorism charges will not be the last as the Trump administration systematically dismantles Antifa and finally halts their violence on America's streets.”

— Pam Bondi, U.S. Attorney General

“I can't believe jurors 'came to this conclusion.' My client had deployed as a member of the U.S. Army several times and he'd hoped what he sacrificed for the country 'meant something.' But I feel like it turned its back on justice with this... The U.S. lost today with this verdict.”

— Christopher Weinbel, Attorney for defendant Daniel Sanchez Estrada

“That opposition is something that the government wants to squash, so a case like this helps the government kind of see how far they can go in criminalizing constitutionally protected protests and also helps them kind of intimidate, increase the fear, hoping that folks in other cities then will think twice over protesting.”

— Suzanne Adely, Interim President, National Lawyers Guild

What’s next

The defendants face sentencing, with those who pleaded guilty to providing material support to terrorists facing up to 15 years in prison.

The takeaway

This high-profile case highlights the Trump administration's efforts to crack down on left-wing protesters by designating antifa as a domestic terrorist organization, even though antifa is not a centralized group. The convictions on terrorism charges could have far-reaching implications for the government's ability to criminalize constitutionally protected demonstrations in the future.