Nine defendants accused of domestic terrorism faced opening statements Tuesday in a Fort Worth federal courtroom, where prosecutors painted them as an organized “Antifa cell” that attacked a North Texas ICE facility with explosives and rifles.
The high-stakes trial follows a mistrial last week, when a defense team member wore a political T-shirt during jury selection, prompting strict new courtroom dress codes, as reported by The Dallas Express.
Federal prosecutors described the defendants as “an Antifa cell consisting of at least 11 operatives” who “coordinated a campaign to disrupt federal law enforcement efforts to carry out immigration activities and deportations,” Fox 4 KDFW reported.
“‘Get to the rifles, get to the rifles.’ Those are the words Benjamin Song shouted to the others as they were confronted by arriving officers,” U.S. Attorney Shawn Smith told jurors, per Fox 4. “They were shooting fireworks explosives at this facility for about 30 minutes at 10:30 at night, wearing all black.”
The government alleges Daniel Estrada, Ines Soto, Elizabeth Soto, Maricela Rueda, Bradford Morris, Savanna Batten, Song, Zachary Evetts, and Cameron Arnold used encrypted messaging to plan the July 4, 2025, attack on Prairieland ICE Detention Center.
Defense attorneys offered starkly different accounts during their eight-minute presentations.
“They wanted to do a noise disturbance using fireworks to let the detainees know they were supported,” one attorney said.
Another argued: “Nowhere is there evidence of the existence of an Antifa cell in North Texas.”
Defense lawyers maintained Song was the sole defendant who brought a rifle to what they characterized as a demonstration, not a planned attack. The incident left an Alvarado police officer shot in the neck after responding to a 911 call. The officer, Lt. Thomas Gross, survived.
Gross was the first witness called to the stand on Tuesday, where he testified that he feared for his life during the July 4 incident. Video footage from his bodycam and dashcam was shown to jurors.
Federal authorities have labeled this the first domestic terrorism case targeting alleged Antifa members. Five other arrestees previously accepted plea deals and are expected to testify.
If convicted on terrorism charges, the defendants face potentially decades in federal prison.