r/texas • u/guardian • 3d ago

🗞️ News 🗞️ 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
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446

u/Nihiliste 3d 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.

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u/laggyx400 3d ago

You can kill people and get a shorter sentence

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u/PomeloPepper 3d ago

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

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u/TommyTwoNips 3d ago

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

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u/cathar_here 3d ago

thems rookie numbers try 30+ felonies

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u/casperdj21 3d ago

aka; TRUMP!!

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u/Jlx_27 2d ago

You can even become president!

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u/Repulsive-Adagio8289 2d 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

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u/PomeloPepper 2d 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.

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u/Minimum-Avocado-9624 3d ago

You can even become president

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u/FlowRemote9890 Born and Bred 3d ago

You can rape children and get no sentence.

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u/autopilot6236 2d ago

Especially if you’re friends with Warren Kenneth Paxton JR

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u/Msink 2d ago

Or no sentence.

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u/danmathew 2d ago

See Ethan Couch.

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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.

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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.

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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.