Abraham Alvarez, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, has been accused of leading a group that planned an attack on the UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House. According to the Justice Department, Alvarez was responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the attack. He overstayed his visa after being brought to the U.S. as a child and was granted deportation relief in 2024 under former President Barack Obama. Alvarez entered the U.S. on a B2 visa, which expired in 2001.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that Alvarez was the ringleader of a failed terror attack targeting the UFC event. He is facing charges of conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States. The alleged plot involved using explosive drones to create panic at the event before snipers would open fire. Alvarez reportedly aimed to target President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Elon Musk, although neither Musk nor Netanyahu were present at the event.
The FBI indicated that Alvarez, who used the alias "Shepherd" in a group chat, directed and recruited others to carry out the attack from his home in Nebraska. FBI special agent Eugene Kowel noted that the team worked diligently to apprehend Alvarez and gather evidence related to the plot.