The penalties in a recent attack where a police officer was shot have overshadowed those given to the January 6 rioters. These sentences hint that some courts may deal sternly with ICE protesters. The incident occurred outside the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, last year.
On June 23, 2026, Benjamin Song, identified as the leader of protesters alleged to be part of the antifa movement, was sentenced to 100 years in prison. A jury found him and seven others guilty of terrorism support during an armed attack on an immigration facility. This heavy sentence was delivered in Federal District Court in Fort Worth.
Nine young demonstrators, including Song, were convicted in March on multiple charges from the assault and shooting of a police officer at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility. Six defendants received 50 to 70-year sentences. Another individual, not present at the protest and convicted of lesser crimes, received 30 years. One more defendant awaits sentencing next month.
The sentences given by Judge Mark T. Pittman and Judge Reed O’Connor are notably tougher than the severest penalty for January 6 rioters. For comparison, Enrique Tarrio, the leader of the Proud Boys, received a 22-year prison term for his role in the Capitol attack.
The stern sentencing in Fort Worth indicates that courts in Texas may adopt an aggressive stance against ICE protesters, particularly those tied to antifa. The Trump administration has cracked down on such activists, with recent indictments in Minnesota against antifa affiliates conspiring against immigration agents.