Alvarado ICE facility ambush trial: Testimony focuses on “propaganda" evidence in suspects’ homes
ICE OIS trial continues as FBI officers testify
FBI agents testified about seizing firearms, body armor, and "propaganda" during searches of homes linked to nine defendants accused of attacking a North Texas ICE facility. FOX 4's Dionne Anglin has more.
FORT WORTH, Texas - Federal agents on Tuesday testified about what they uncovered during the search of the homes and apartments of those arrested in an alleged attack on an ICE detention center near Fort Worth.
The defendants on trial are accused of a coordinated attack last summer.
Trial Testimony Day 5
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 Prairieland Detention Facility on July 4, 2025, allegedly under Song’s direction.
The violence culminated in gunfire that left a responding Alvarado Police Department Lt. Thomas Gross seriously injured.
Defense attorneys have argued there was no ambush. They called it a planned noise demonstration to show support for the immigration detainees.
What's new:
On Tuesday, FBI agents testified about the search of several residences and vehicles connected to some of the defendants in the days after the incident, including Song, the alleged leader and mastermind.
The federal agents discussed evidence confiscated from those homes and apartments in Dallas, Garland, and Denton, including multiple pistols, long guns, ammunition, various types of bulletproof vests, handheld radios, a bullhorn, and what they called "propaganda."
What they're saying:
"So, your understanding was you were looking for reading materials, printed materials?" a defense attorney asked the FBI special agent.
"Yes," the agent replied.
"So, there was no particular expressed distinction for what you were told to look for? Just a large spectrum of issues?" the defense attorney asked.
"There was information outlined in the search warrant," the agent said.
The defense pressed further.
"Do you recall them saying to look for things that may highlight anarchist or anarchy?" the attorney asked.
"Yes," the agent said.
"What about anti-immigration, anti-ICE?" the attorney asked.
"Yes, the agent replied.
"And what about Antifa?" asked the defense.
"I believe so," the agent replied.
"So, you weren’t just told to indiscriminately look for things that stand out?" the defense attorney asked.
"Anti-government may have been one of the words they used," the agent said.
What's next:
The trial is expected to last about three weeks.
Several defendants face up to life in prison if convicted.
Continued Coverage
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- Jurors listen to 911 calls in Alvarado ICE facility ambush trial
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- 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
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- Alvarado officer shot in neck while responding to suspicious person callAlvarado ICE Ambush
Alvarado ICE Ambush
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Jurors see body cam footage in Alvarado ICE facility attack trial
On the third day of testimony in the Alvarado ICE facility terror attack, jurors viewed body camera footage from the night of the incident, as well as evidence recovered from a defendant's car. FOX 4's Dionne Anglin has more.
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.
Benjamin Song, 'Top 10' suspect in Alvarado ICE attack, captured in Dallas
Benjamin Song, an FBI Most Wanted suspect believed to have attempted to murder three officers at an ICE detention facility in Alvarado on July 4, has been arrested.
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.
The Source: Information in this story came from statements made in court today and previous FOX 4 coverage of this story.