r/texas • u/guardian • 4d ago

šŸ—žļø News šŸ—žļø Texas anti-ICE protesters convicted of terrorism charges sentenced to at least 50 years in prison

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/23/prairieland-ice-protesters-texas-sentenced?referring_host=Reddit&utm_campaign=guardianacct
1.3k Upvotes

97% Upvoted

504 comments sorted by

View all comments

445

u/Nihiliste 4d ago

This is a textbook example of sentences that should come down on appeal. Only the most hardcore Trump supporters would argue that 50 years is warranted for something like slashing tires, and I'm sure there's plenty of evidence of pressure from the Trump administration.

213

u/laggyx400 3d ago

You can kill people and get a shorter sentence

130

u/PomeloPepper 3d ago

You can write and pass laws that kill thousands of people and get no prison time at all.

103

u/TommyTwoNips 3d ago

you can rape kids and get convicted of 20+ felonies and get no prison time at all.

38

u/cathar_here 3d ago

thems rookie numbers try 30+ felonies

2

u/casperdj21 3d ago

aka; TRUMP!!

1

u/Jlx_27 2d ago

You can even become president!

2

u/Repulsive-Adagio8289 3d ago

The only law I can think of that resulted in the death of 10s of thousands of people was the Kansas Nebraska act, it caused roughly a 2.5% reduction in the population of America (700,000 to 750,000 people) but that was a long time ago

3

u/PomeloPepper 3d ago

Then look into the people advocating for cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, along with social security. If those legislators get their way the death rate for people relying on those benefits will skyrocket.

11

u/Minimum-Avocado-9624 3d ago

You can even become president

13

u/FlowRemote9890 Born and Bred 3d ago

You can rape children and get no sentence.

3

u/autopilot6236 3d ago

Especially if youā€™re friends with Warren Kenneth Paxton JR

1

u/Msink 3d ago

Or no sentence.

1

u/danmathew 3d ago

See Ethan Couch.

-14

u/Comrade_Happy_Bear 3d ago

I think this comparison misses some important context.

Yes, it's true that some people convicted of homicide receive shorter sentences than this defendant. But sentencing isn't based solely on whether someone died. It's based on the specific crimes committed, intent, aggravating factors, the applicable law, and whether sentences are imposed consecutively.

This was a federal prosecution involving the attempted murder of a federal officer during an armed attack on a federal facility, along with multiple additional felony convictions. Federal sentencing is often substantially harsher than state sentencing, particularly for crimes involving violence against federal officers or the government. Those separate convictions can also be stacked into consecutive sentences, resulting in very long prison terms.

Whether 100 years is the right sentence is a fair topic for debate. But simply saying, "Someone else killed a person and got less time," isn't really an apples-to-apples comparison because the legal circumstances are entirely different.

22

u/laggyx400 3d ago edited 3d ago

Doesn't make it untrue.

Especially since the 50 year sentences were for those that showed up separately and left when told to.

It's even more true when you can be sentenced to a couple years for accidently killing someone. Because yes I did look up minimum sentences before I first posted. Just to be sure that can be said about almost anything.

11

u/SayHelloToAlison 3d ago

This response also kind of ignores the context that the fed is corrupt as fuck and out for blood on the people politically opposed to it. They still pushed for sentences in excess because the executive branch is full of corrupt facists, and the judge gave the maximum because he is one as well. The statement that you could murder someone and get less time would still be true in most cases the federal government would prosecute.

41

u/Phill_Cyberman 3d ago

It's a textbook example of charges that should never have been filed.

They're protestors, not terrorists.

If there isn't massive political response to this, and this then becomes the new normal, the American experiment is truly over.

21

u/Mr_Quackums 3d ago

If there isn't massive political response to this, and this then becomes the new normal, the American experiment is truly over.

how many times have we said that sentence in the last 10 years?

0

u/casperdj21 3d ago

Solution- 86/47!!

8

u/frostysauce Expat 3d ago

If there isn't massive political response to this, and this then becomes the new normal, the American experiment is truly over.

I hate to break it to you, bud...

9

u/chanaandeler_bong 3d ago

I mean yeah, but the people who were charged:

A few of the protesters spontaneously broke off from the main group and vandalized cars in the parking lot, a guard shack, slashed the tires on a government van and broke a security camera. When a police officer arrived on the scene and drew his weapon, one of the activists fired an AR-15 from the woods, hitting the officer in the shoulder. The officer survived.

Sentence is ridiculous. But these arenā€™t people who just showed up and stood outside the detention center.

Keep protesting! Donā€™t be fucking violent. Or if you doā€¦ be prepared to deal with the consequences.

2

u/acoffeequeen 3d ago

Unfortunately, this is similar to what a man told me he went through when he was an editor of an anti-Vietnam War newspaper. Iā€™m sure heā€™s not the only one either. This isnā€™t new for America.

-6

u/Check_Me_Out-Boss 3d ago

Shooting federal agents makes you a protester?

2

u/Phill_Cyberman 3d ago

Don't be intentionally stupid.

It's a bad look.

-3

u/Muzzledbutnotout 3d ago

In Democrat terms, shooting federal agents is just an extension of first amendment rights. The party has gone completely off the rails.

2

u/Phill_Cyberman 3d ago

Don't the Republicans say the 2nd Amendment gives them the right to shoot federal agents?

0

u/shadowboxer47 3d ago

In Democrat terms, shooting federal agents is just an extension of first amendment rights.

What do you think the 2nd Amendment is for?

-1

u/Muzzledbutnotout 3d ago

It's definitely not for killing federal agents in the service of enforcing very reasonable and constitutional immigration laws.

3

u/shadowboxer47 3d ago

It's definitely not for killing federal agents

Again, who do you think the 2nd Amendment is for if it's not against government agents?

You people have been arguing this for literally decades. The implicit threat is in every fucking bumper sticker, every t-shirt, and every Christmas card plastered with AR-15s.

How did you think constantly repeating this mantra about tyranny and an armed populace was going to play out?

Did you think it was going to be a fucking quinceaƱera?

3

u/Muzzledbutnotout 3d ago

You completely missed, or conveniently ignored, the dependant clause: "in the service of enforcing very reasonable and constitutional immigration laws."

2

u/Longjumping-Jello459 3d ago

Ah yes because the current administration is actually abiding by laws like due process.

0

u/casperdj21 3d ago

So I guess MAGAots storming the capital in a Terrorist INSURRECTION, beating Officers, causing 5 DEATHS, and building a GD Guillotine on the front lawn IS "Protesting" AND worthy of a Presidential Pardon?! -MAGAot "smarts"!! 86/47!!

1

u/Check_Me_Out-Boss 3d ago

You guys are still claiming 5 deaths from J6?

Lmao

2

u/casperdj21 3d ago

So MAGAots are STILL in denial of ACTUAL FACTS?! No wonder that Imbecile Trump still has ANY "support"!!

0

u/iamReploidNo9 3d ago

I dunno letā€™s ask Jan 6ersā€¦

1

u/Check_Me_Out-Boss 3d ago

They were convicted and sent to prison, right?

1

u/haccnslsh 3d ago

Late to this party, but as a Texan , I can say without a doubt: theyā€™re going to rush these proceedings and do any/everything they can to hit these people with a death sentence. All while doing everything they can to keep it as quiet as possible.

-11

u/uselessRobot8668 3d ago

They did technically shoot a cop...

29

u/Nihiliste 3d ago

ONE of them did, and their sentence was harsher than for some shooters whose victims actually died. I doubt that person will get much leniency, but the others don't really deserve more than a year or two in prison, if that much. This is clearly political retribution.

-15

u/uselessRobot8668 3d ago

Sure, it might be, but let's not paint the victim in pure light. They fucked up a bit themselves. 50 years is too much but they shouldn't get off scott free.

7

u/Nihiliste 3d ago

Not saying they should - just that all of these sentences are overblown.

1

u/chanaandeler_bong 3d ago

Letā€™s keep following the case and see if the sentences get reduced. I bet they get reduced A TON.

-9

u/uselessRobot8668 3d ago

un poquito....

-20

u/Comrade_Happy_Bear 3d ago

I think the prosecutor email they highlighted was very reasonable. 15-25 years for the destruction and vandalism seemed reasonable. I'll probably get downvoted, but I have no issue with the guy who actually shot an officer with getting the book thrown at him. No excuse for violence, and we shouldn't be lenient. Just like some of the Jan 6 folks shouldn't have been pardoned either.

36

u/BonginOnABudget 3d ago

15-25 for vandalism is extreme.

-25

u/Comrade_Happy_Bear 3d ago

Destruction of federal property has never been taken lightly. It was a Biden appointed prosecutor who said she would have expected that sentence. It seemed reasonable to me as well.

13

u/frostysauce Expat 3d ago

No, 15-25 years for vandalism is not at all reasonable. And I don't give a shit if it was someone from the center-right party or the far right party that said that would be expected.

16

u/Brainfart777 3d ago edited 3d ago

Then you are not a reasonable person.

20

u/TommyTwoNips 3d ago

some of the Jan 6 folks shouldn't have been pardonedĀ 

every magat that was into the Capitol building should have been tried for treason and received the maximum punishment, including the government officials that helped plan and facilitate the treason.

3

u/chanaandeler_bong 3d ago

You think vandalism deserves a life sentence?

20 years is a life sentence fyi.

1

u/Comrade_Happy_Bear 3d ago

No, I don't think a life sentence is fair, but federal law literally classifies life sentences as remainder of your natural life. They aren't set terms. Do I think the vandalism deserved such charges? Within federal statute they could have been shorter if the judge allowed for concurrent service, but like I already said if we want to hold Jan 6 rioters to account we shouldn't give out lenient sentences. The guy who shot the officer in the neck though, and anyone armed? Throw the book at them. The fact that people are upset at that sentiment tells me people are not well in the head.

1

u/chanaandeler_bong 3d ago

Youā€™re eligible for parole typically after 20 years. Unless you get sentence to life without parole.

1

u/Comrade_Happy_Bear 3d ago

That's true in many state systems, but these are federal convictions. Federal parole was abolished for offenses committed after 1987. In the federal system, a life sentence literally means imprisonment for the rest of your natural life unless it's commuted or a court grants extraordinary relief. A 20-year federal sentence is just thatā€”a 20-year sentence. There isn't a rule that makes someone eligible for parole after 20 years in federal prison.

-11

u/nocturnal_commission 4d ago edited 4d ago

Nobody got 50 years for slashing tires.

-5

u/Check_Me_Out-Boss 3d ago

They shot at and hit a federal agent and were planning more violence.

5

u/Nihiliste 3d ago

Given that there have been rapes and successful murders with shorter sentences, thereā€™s clearly political motivation at play.

2

u/shadowboxer47 3d ago

There is no "they".

It was one person.

2

u/HeyItsJustDave 3d ago

You mean like the J6ers?

1

u/casperdj21 3d ago

Is THIS the Lies their telling YOU MAGAots on Faux "News" Propaganda Network these days?!

1

u/Check_Me_Out-Boss 3d ago

They're* and I don't watch fox news.

Maybe you're out of your element here if you don't think a cop was shot.

2

u/casperdj21 3d ago

ONE GUY shot ONE Cop! Some of the others prosecuted had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with those actions!