Eight anti-ICE protesters sentenced to 30-100 years for July 4 detention center protest
Jun 23, 2026 · Alvarado, TX
Eight anti-ICE activists were sentenced to 30 to 100 years in prison on June 23, 2026, following convictions on federal charges including riot, material support for terrorism, and explosives-related offenses stemming from a July 4, 2025 noise demonstration at Prairieland ICE Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas. Benjamin Hanil Song received a 100-year sentence after being convicted of attempted murder for allegedly shooting a police officer during the protest. Daniel Sanchez Estrada, a lawful permanent resident who was not present at the protest, received a 30-year sentence for transporting a box of antifascist zines after his wife attended the demonstration. The remaining six defendants received 50 to 70-year sentences. Defendants and their supporters challenged the convictions, arguing the government presented insufficient evidence and that the prosecution constituted political persecution, but sentencing proceeded despite pending motions to overturn the convictions.
Timeline
Sources
- truthout.org (archived)
- The Intercept (archived)
- PBS (archived)
- prairielanddefendants.com (archived)
- prairielanddefendants.com (archived)
- prairielanddefendants.com (archived)
- newrepublic.com (archived)
- keranews.org (archived)
- combattants-de-la-liberte.org (archived)
- freedes.net (archived)
- freedom.press (archived)
- abolitionmedia.noblogs.org (archived)
- anarchistnews.org (archived)
- anarchistfederation.net (archived)
- Al Jazeera (archived)
- web.archive.org (archived)
- prairielanddefendants.com (archived)
- prairielanddefendants.com (archived)
- combattants-de-la-liberte.org (archived)
- CBS News (archived)
- yoo.social
- factinface.net (archived)
- CBS News (archived)
- iwpost.com (archived)
- newz.com (archived)
- commondreams.org (archived)
- The Guardian (archived)
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