On Tuesday, the Department of Justice handed down a 100-year prison sentence to Benjamin Song, a former Marine Corps Reservist and Antifa cell leader, for a violent assault on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Texas. The sentencing follows a 12-day trial in March where a jury convicted Song of attempted murder. Seven of his accomplices were also sentenced on Tuesday, receiving prison terms ranging from 30 to 70 years.
The case represents a major legal shift, marking the first time the U.S. government has prosecuted accused Antifa members under federal terrorism-related charges. The prosecution follows a September 2025 move by President Donald Trump labeling the far-left movement a domestic terrorist organization.
The charges stem from an incident on July 4, 2025. According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, members of the group had attended a peaceful demonstration at the ICE detention center earlier that day without any gear.
However, authorities stated that the group returned late that night dressed in all black and heavily armed, bringing 11 firearms and body armor. The group proceeded to shoot fireworks at the facility, vandalize vehicles, and damage a guard shack.
When local police responded to the scene and began issuing commands to one of the cell members, Song escalated the confrontation. Police bodycam footage captured Song shouting, “get to the rifles!”
Song then opened fire, shooting a responding police officer in the neck. Unarmed correctional officers at the scene were forced to duck and run for cover to escape the gunfire.
While most of the cell members were apprehended on the night of the attack, Song managed to evade law enforcement. He fled into a nearby forest, landing on Texas’ “Most Wanted Fugitive” list. After hiding out for 11 days, authorities tracked Song to a supporter’s apartment in Dallas on July 15, where he was arrested.
In total, the nine defendants who went to trial racked up 65 combined charges, including attempted murder, aiding terrorists, and weapons violations. One remaining defendant, Ines Soto, is currently awaiting a sentencing hearing scheduled for July 1.
Throughout the trial, the defense argued against the prosecution’s framing of the incident, asserting that the group did not plan to engage in violence that night. The defense also argued that Antifa functions as a decentralized political ideology rather than a structured organization. Following the convictions earlier this year, several leftist groups condemned the verdict and organized fundraising efforts to support the convicted members.
READ: ‘Data Centers Are Coming’: Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins Slams Campaign Ban Promises As A ‘BS Bomb’
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
