A Carefully Planned Operation
According to evidence presented during trial, the attack on the Prairieland ICE Detention Center was anything but spontaneous.
Federal prosecutors argued that Song spent months organizing and training members of a militant group that ultimately carried out the July 4, 2025 assault. Testimony revealed that recruits participated in firearms training exercises and tactical preparation sessions before the operation.
Authorities said the group accumulated dozens of weapons in the Dallas-Fort Worth area before the attack. Members allegedly arrived at the detention facility shortly after midnight wearing black clothing, face coverings, body armor, and carrying advanced medical equipment designed to treat battlefield-style injuries.
Investigators testified that participants took extraordinary steps to avoid detection, including disabling electronic devices and using Faraday bags intended to prevent location tracking.
The confrontation escalated when Alvarado Police Lieutenant Thomas Gross responded to emergency calls from the scene.
Body camera footage introduced during trial reportedly captured Song shouting, “Get to the rifles!” moments before gunfire erupted.
Lt. Gross was struck in the neck during the attack and survived his injuries. Prosecutors described the shooting as attempted murder.
Following the incident, Song managed to evade authorities for nearly two weeks before federal agents arrested him on July 15.
A Historic Sentencing
The punishment handed down this week represents more than just the conclusion of a single criminal case.
Legal analysts note that the sentencing comes after President Donald Trump’s 2025 executive order designating Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization. As a result, many supporters of the administration view the ruling as the first major terrorism-related sentencing involving individuals connected to the movement.
Federal judges overseeing the case delivered unusually blunt assessments of the defendants’ actions.
U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor rejected attempts to portray the incident as a demonstration that got out of hand, describing the attack as “an assault on democracy.”
Judge Mark Pittman was equally forceful in his remarks from the bench.
According to courtroom reports, Pittman stated it was “by the grace of God” that no one lost their life during the incident. He warned that if attacks on responding police officers become normalized, “we are in a really, really bad point in our history.”
During sentencing, Song reportedly attempted to use his remarks to make political statements. Pittman eventually interrupted him, noting that the defendant had “obviously” failed to take responsibility for his actions.
Hundreds of Years in Combined Sentences
Song was not the only member of the group sentenced.
Federal courts imposed a combined total of approximately 450 years in prison on eight defendants connected to the operation.
Maricela Rueda received a 70-year sentence.
Five additional defendants — Cameron Arnold, Savanna Batten, Zachary Evetts, Bradford Morris, and Elizabeth Soto — were each sentenced to 50 years.
Additional individuals connected to the case are expected to face sentencing hearings in the coming days.
FBI and DOJ Respond
Federal law enforcement leaders wasted little time responding to the outcome.
FBI Director Kash Patel praised the verdict and emphasized that federal authorities intend to continue targeting violent extremist networks.
“Today’s sentencings show the FBI remains committed to identifying, locating, and dismantling Antifa and its funding networks across the country,” Patel said in a DOJ press release.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche echoed that position, warning that attacks against federal facilities and law enforcement officers would be met with “swift and uncompromising justice.”
The Justice Department also highlighted testimony presented during trial that described increasing efforts by extremist activists to target ICE and DHS facilities across the country.
Political Fallout Begins
The sentencing immediately sparked a political firestorm.
Michigan Representative Rashida Tlaib criticized the penalties, calling them “a travesty.”
Her comments drew a swift response from White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, who accused the congresswoman of “defending antifa terrorists who tried to massacre state and federal law enforcement.”
The exchange underscored the deep political divide surrounding the case.
Defense attorneys attempted to argue that Song did not intentionally shoot Lt. Gross, claiming he was firing “suppressive fire” and that the officer was struck by a ricochet.
Jurors ultimately rejected that argument.
After reviewing weeks of testimony, evidence, surveillance footage, and witness statements, the jury concluded that the attack was a deliberate act of violence rather than a protest gone wrong.
With additional defendants still awaiting sentencing, federal authorities appear determined to use the Prairieland case as a warning to anyone considering similar attacks in the future.
For supporters of tougher law enforcement policies, Tuesday’s ruling represents a major victory. For critics, it raises new debates about domestic extremism, political violence, and how aggressively the federal government should respond.
Either way, the message from the courtroom was unmistakable: individuals who attack police officers and federal facilities can expect to face the full force of the American justice system.
