Closing arguments heard in Alvarado ICE facility ambush trial

FORT WORTH, Texas - Closing arguments were heard Wednesday in the trial for nine people accused of an ambush attack on an ICE detention center in North Texas.

Outside the federal courthouse in Fort Worth, their supporters are protesting while they wait to see how the trial concludes.

What we know:

The nine defendants in this case – Daniel Estrada, Ines Soto, Elizabeth Soto, Maricela Rueda, Bradford Morris, Savanna Batten, Benjamin Song, Zachary Evetts, and Cameron Arnold – are each accused of attacking the detention center on July 4, 2025, allegedly under Song’s direction.

Song is accused of firing the shot that injured Alvarado Police Department Lt. Thomas Gross. Song allegedly hid in the woods for a night after the violence and was captured roughly a week later.

Defense attorneys have argued there was no ambush. They called it a planned noise demonstration to show support for the immigration detainees.

Closing Arguments

What's new:

Closing arguments ended around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. The jury will begin deliberating tomorrow morning.

The arguments went until well into the evening because there are nine defendants, and each defendant's attorney had 15 minutes to speak. The government was given 75 minutes for its closing arguments.

During closing arguments, Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Smith reminded jurors that the defendants wore all-black clothing.

"Why hide yourself? Why are you bringing weapons? There was no evidence of counter-protesters. Rifles, pistols, radios, first aid kits – why do you bring that stuff to a peaceful protest?" he asked.

He suggested the demonstration was all part of Song’s plan.

"This was Song’s plan to create a confrontation and he used his inner circle to pull it off," Smith said. "Song said it three times. ‘I’m not going to jail.’ Everybody in that group chat knew what he was capable of and what he wanted to do."

Multiple defense attorneys asked the jury to consider each defendant separate from the other. They also argued the government is going overboard to send a message.

"The government is trying to put protestors in prison for being terrorists, something that hasn't happened before," the defense attorney for Elizabeth Soto said.

The charges against the defendants include aiding and abetting, providing material support for terrorist activities, damaging or destroying government property, conspiracy to use or carry an explosive in the commission of a crime, discharging a firearm during the commission of a federal crime, and attempted murder.

It took the judge more than an hour to read the instructions for those charges to the jury because the document was more than 90 pages long.

Prosecutors argued again as closing arguments wrapped up, saying all defendants are liable for what happened on the night of the alleged ambush.

Supporters Protest

A group demonstrated outside the courthouse on Wednesday in support of the nine defendants. They said they were waiting to hear the outcome of the trial.

Continued Coverage

• Prosecution expected to rest on Tuesday
• Fireworks used as 'dangerous explosives,' expert testifies
• Witness describes group's Antifa beliefs, helping alleged shooter hide
• Witness describes helping alleged shooter escape
• Defendants allegedly discussed guns, cameras & exit routes on Signal app
• Testimony focuses on "propaganda" evidence in suspects’ homes
• Witnesses, investigators testify on what happened
• Jurors view evidence, deputy body camera footage
• Jurors listen to 911 calls in Alvarado ICE facility ambush trial
• Attorneys give opening statements
• Alvarado ICE facility terrorism trial restarts following mistrial
• Mistrial in federal domestic terrorism case over Alvarado ICE facility attack
• 9 alleged Antifa members face domestic terrorism trial for July 4 ICE facility attack
• First Antifa terrorism case: 5 plead guilty in Alvarado ICE facility attack
• Justice department must 'connect the dots' in first-ever Antifa indictment
• 9 'Antifa cell members' indicted in connection with Alvarado ICE shooting
• Alvarado ICE Facility Ambush: 21st person facing charges related to 'coordinated attack'
• Benjamin Song, 'Top 10' suspect in Alvarado ICE attack, captured in Dallas
• Alvarado ICE facility an 'easy target' for ambush, criminologist says
• Alvarado ICE facility attack: Blue Alert sent for military veteran suspected in shooting
• Alvarado officer shot in neck while responding to suspicious person call

Alvarado ICE Ambush

The nine defendants in this case are accused of participating in what federal prosecutors have called a planned ambush at the Prairieland ICE Detention Center on July 4, 2025.

Authorities allege fireworks were ignited, buildings and vehicles were damaged, and federal officers were fired upon. An Alvarado police officer responding to a 911 call was shot in the neck and survived.

Prosecutors contend the attack was orchestrated by members of what they describe as a North Texas Antifa cell and have labeled the case the first federal indictment in the nation tied to alleged Antifa-related domestic terrorism charges.

The defendants have denied wrongdoing, and their supporters insist the gathering was a protest and that not everyone present participated in the violence.

Five other people arrested in connection with the incident previously accepted plea deals and are expected to testify as the trial moves forward.