A federal court in Fort Worth sentenced eight individuals to lengthy prison terms for their involvement in a July 2025 demonstration outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center. Benjamin Song received a 100-year sentence, while Maricela Rueda was sentenced to 70 years. Six others, including Savanna Batten and Elizabeth Soto, received sentences of 50 years each, and Daniel Sanchez Estrada was sentenced to 30 years for charges related to concealing documents. The sentences were issued consecutively, resulting in significantly extended prison time.
The demonstration escalated into vandalism and violence, including the shooting of a police officer. Initially charged with attempted murder and firearm offenses, the defendants faced increased charges after the Trump administration's directives aimed at countering political opposition. The Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security cited the case as a significant example of their efforts against anti-administration activism, labeling the group as the 'North Texas Antifa Cell.'
The DfW Support Committee, which advocates for the defendants, criticized the sentences, claiming the individuals were innocent and asserting that the government's actions were a punishment for their solidarity. The case reflects a broader trend of conspiracy charges against protestors across the country, with similar cases emerging in Alabama and Minneapolis. U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman initially declared a mistrial due to a juror's attire and described the July 4 events as an 'assault on Democracy' during sentencing.