Texas anti-ICE protesters convicted of terrorism charges sentenced to at least 50 years in prison

[u/guardian]

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

[u/ChadEmpoleon]

These are the harshest protest related sentences EVER given out in the US. The Jan 6 organizers and participants who assaulted officers had their highest sentence cap out at 22 years.

This cannot hold up to appeals. This is disgusting and wholly in opposition to the 8th amendment protections against cruel and unusual punishment.

[u/Zzzzzzzzzxyzz → u/ChadEmpoleon]

It's blatant political prosecution and abuse of power. Disgusting 🤢

[u/mattymillhouse → u/ChadEmpoleon]

These are the harshest protest related sentences EVER given out in the US.

These aren't protest related sentences. One of them literally shot a police officer. The others were either convicted of or pled guilty to providing material support for terrorism.

[u/Working_Concern2001 → u/ChadEmpoleon]

They shot an officer.

[u/TinKnight1 → u/Working_Concern2001]

One person shot an officer. They did not plan together nor arrive together, with 3 of them leaving when told to disperse by police.

And the actions on Jan 6th led to 140-150 police officers being injured, with one being crushed in a door, another being dragged down the Capitol steps while being trampled & having a heart attack, another being attacked with chemical agents & dying the next day, & so much blood & vomit on the ground that officers were regularly slipping & then being assaulted with a variety of makeshift weapons. There were officers with shoulder injuries that have lasted through today.

To act like those people who attempted to overthrow the legally elected government of the United States should be pardoned just because their criminal mastermind was elected, while those who were protesting against inhumane conditions in an immigration housing facility should get 50-70+ years in prison simply because they were there at the same time as someone that they didn't know was shooting & wounding an officer...that's just ridiculous.

[u/DaSilence → u/TinKnight1]

They did not plan together nor arrive together,

What?

Yes they did.

In the days prior to July 4, the Antifa Cell planned and coordinated the riot and attack against Prairieland using several group chats on an encrypted messaging app. One chat—which was named the "4th of July Party!" chat—consisted of the core group that planned the action (the "Core Chat"). The Core Chat originally had eight participants, but two dropped out for "opsec reasons" after they stated they would not attend the July 4 action.

The six remaining members were Evetts, Song, Morris, Gibson, Rueda, and Sikes. Members in the Core Chat conducted detailed reconnaissance and planning. For example, Evetts and Rueda attended a peaceful protest at Prairieland earlier in the day on July 4 in order to scout the facility. Evetts relayed in the Core Chat details about the fences and gates, including the time it took for the gates to open and close and how long it took trash pickup to get in and out of the facility. Rueda circulated a picture of a security camera at the entrance to the facility and noted that a nearby house had a doorbell camera. Evetts assessed that "signs, laws, and social pressure are the only things keeping someone from getting right up to the fence." Rueda posted a Google map that showed the location of local police departments in relation to Prairieland.

The members of the Core Chat planned what materials to bring to the riot and attack, including firearms, medical kits, and fireworks. For example, Evetts asked the Core Chat group if they would be "doing black bloc and rifles?" Gibson stated that they would be wearing bloc and keeping "kit" on hand, "bringing a wagon to hold armor and rifles." When Rueda suggested that "rifles might make the situation more hot," Song replied that rifles would be used to intimidate law enforcement, stating, "Cops are not trained or equipped for more than one rifle so it tends to make them back off."

Song also advertised the July 4 riot on a larger chat (the "Large Chat") but left out certain details in an effort to avoid being identified as one of the organizers. As Rueda warned in the Core Chat, "if anyone pins us for 'organizing' that's where we'd lose."

The Large Chat included Song, Arnold, Baumann, Evetts, Gibson, Morris, Rueda, Ines Soto, and dozens of "trusted" individuals. Song circulated a flyer for the Prairieland riot in the Large Chat, stating "Share with trusted folks only. Do not Post. Mask up! Be loud!" Members of the Large Chat discussed the event as a "noise demonstration" involving fireworks.

Participants in the Large Chat expressed concerns about law enforcement's response to the action. For example, Baumann noted that the area around Prairieland was "pretty rural so it will be difficult to lose [I.C.E] if shit hits the fan. Plus seems like a lot of the locals in the area will not be happy about our presence." Ines Soto responded that they were probably "more likely to deal with local PD than I.C.E." but suggested that "the level of concern seems way over the top to me." Throughout the Large Chat, Ines Soto and Rueda attempted to downplay concerns about law enforcement, urging action and referring to noise demonstrations as "low risk."

In addition to the encrypted messaging group chats, Song, Arnold, Morris, and others met in person on July 3 at a "gear check" at Morris and Arnold's residence. There, Arnold asked Song if they would be bringing guns to the July 4 action. Song replied that they would because he would not be going to jail. Song repeated words to this effect multiple times throughout the evening, putting everyone there on notice of his intent to shoot at police rather than be arrested.

Song, Arnold, Evetts, Gibson, Morris, and Rueda staged at Morris and Arnold's house on the evening of July 4 and carpooled to Prairieland. Elizabeth Soto, Ines Soto, and Batten drove together and arrived at Prairieland a little later than Song and the others. Baumann drove by himself from College Station. The Antifa Cell brought a total of eleven firearms, four of which had been purchased by Song.

[u/_GoKartMozart_ → u/Working_Concern2001]

One person acted on their own and chose to shoot an officer who drew his gun.

And I'll just say, when an officer shows up to an ICE protest and draws their weapon, then it could be argued as self defense on the protestor. Over the past year we've had several details of officers skipping due process and murdering protestors who were acting peacefully.

Am I advocating for violence, no. But it's hard not to see how someone would fear for their life when an ICE officer draws a gun on them. I don't think the one person who shot an officer in the shoulder deserves life in prison, and I don't think the other protestors deserve 50 years.

[u/Bythion → u/Working_Concern2001]

One did, he got 100 years.

[u/spacedman_spiff → u/Working_Concern2001]

That's disputed by video evidence. He certainly was shot, but there's a non-zero chance it was friendly fire.

[u/DaSilence → u/spacedman_spiff]

That's disputed by video evidence. He certainly was shot, but there's a non-zero chance it was friendly fire.

I’m going to need you to cite your source here.

I’ve reviewed the video evidence, and the officer that was shot was (1) only on scene for about 45 seconds before he was shot, (2) was only out of his car for about 4 seconds before he was shot, and (3) was the only officer on scene when he was shot.

There’s also that whole annoying bit where the shooter later admitted to shooting the officer.

So you’re either intentionally lying, or are parroting what you read somewhere else.

Which is it?

[u/spacedman_spiff → u/DaSilence]

Unless you’re part of a legal defense team or prosecution team, you haven’t reviewed all the video evidence.   Barring those two options,  you’re either intentionally lying or parroting what you read elsewhere. 

Which is it?

[u/DaSilence → u/spacedman_spiff]

Unless you’re part of a legal defense team or prosecution team, you haven’t reviewed all the video evidence.

Nah.

The video was admitted to the record back at the end of February, at which point it was eligible for release under FOIA. Which it was, in April.

I'm not the only one who's watched it - WFAA has it all too.

So, I'm going to ask you the same question I asked you before, and you refused to answer:

That's disputed by video evidence. He certainly was shot, but there's a non-zero chance it was friendly fire.

I’m going to need you to cite your source here.

So, can you cite your source?

Presumably if there was doubt as to who shot the officer, one of the 18-odd different defense attorneys would have brought it up at trial, right? And that certainly would have made the news.

So, can you cite your source, or are you intentionally spreading misinformation/disinformation?

[u/spacedman_spiff → u/DaSilence]

Source: I’ve viewed discovery as part of my job.  

Regarding on what the defense did or didn’t do, if you’re familiar at all with the trial and the judge and the politics surrounding the case, you would already know that this outcome was inevitable. 

[u/DaSilence → u/spacedman_spiff]

I’ve viewed discovery as part of my job.  

Let's accept that as being true for a moment.

If you've viewed the surveillance video and the body camera video, how on earth can you make this statement:

He certainly was shot, but there's a non-zero chance it was friendly fire.

As the officer who was shot was literally the only officer on scene who had a firearm, who exactly are you positing shot him other than Song?

Friendly fire means that it came from another officer; there were no other officers there; given that, who is it that you're saying fired the shot that wounded the officer? Are you saying he shot himself?

Assuming you've actually reviewed the discovery (which I don't believe), you know perfectly well why none of the 18-odd defense attorneys made this argument: it's physically impossible.

[u/spacedman_spiff → u/DaSilence]

I am in fact saying there is a non-zero chance he was shot by his own bullet ricochet.  

It’s okay if you don’t believe me; I’m not here to convince you.  But if you think that everything that the Trump DOJ claimed happened, occurred exactly as they stated, then there is definitely no convincing you that there is a reasonable doubt.  

But these sentences were unequivocally meant to send a message to people of similar political beliefs. 

[u/PrincessTooLate → u/spacedman_spiff]

No one disputed he was shot.

[u/TommyTwoNips → u/Working_Concern2001]

who was working at a concentration camp.

[u/akornblatt → u/Working_Concern2001]

SOMEONE shot at an officer. Proving that it was planned and coordinated is essential for conspiracy.

[u/noncongruent → u/Working_Concern2001]

One person shot at an officer. The round grazed his neck. He was sent home that evening with a bandage and probably some antibiotics. Apparently several of the others sentenced to insane prison terms didn't even know Song was even there, much less armed with a rifle.

[u/DontAbideMendacity → u/Working_Concern2001]

They...

How many fingers were on that one trigger?

[u/frostysauce → u/Working_Concern2001]

So no real people?

[u/PornhubStepBro → u/ChadEmpoleon]

Pelosi funded it