An unprecedented 450‑year prison haul was handed out to eight men accused of acting as Antifa “terrorists” in a July 4 firework‑filled riot outside Texas’s Prairieland detention center.
The longest sentence, 100 years, was given to Benjamin Hanil Song, a former Marine who faced a minimum penalty of 20 years. He was found guilty of attempting to kill a police officer during the chaos, an act prosecutors say caused the officer injury.
Other convicts carried 30‑to‑70‑year terms: Maricela Rueda received 70 years, seven others each 50 years, while Daniel Rolando Sanchez‑Estrada got 30 years. The 450‑year sum is the combined punishment for all eight defendants.
The Justice Department argued that their group, the North Texas Antifa Cell, part of a broader anti‑government network, carried out “widespread violence.” The cell fired fireworks, threw hard items at the facility, and vandalised cars and guard posts.
Under the current U.S. policy, Antifa is classified as a domestic terrorist organization—an approach championed by former President Trump, who issued an executive order in September 2025. Critics say Antifa is a loose ideology rather than a tightly‑organized criminal group.
Some supporters argue the defendants were simply participating in a protest meant to “show noise” rather than to incite violence. They say the defendants aimed to defend detained immigrants. The families of the nine protesters, including a ninth defendant awaiting sentencing (Ines Soto), reportedly feel the penalties are excessive.
The case underscores a tense divide over immigration, protest rights and the label of terrorism. While other detention centers have seen lesser disruptions, Prairieland’s violent episode marks a flashpoint that will be studied in future policy debates.
