A demonstrator who shot and wounded a police officer outside a Texas immigration center on July 4 has been sentenced to 100 years in federal prison. Benjamin Song was convicted of attempted murder for opening fire at the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado.
Seven other protesters accused of having ties to antifa were sentenced Tuesday to federal prison terms ranging from 30 to 70 years. Prosecutors allege the eight individuals are members of antifa, a decentralized anti-fascist movement that has been targeted by the Trump administration. The defendants have denied affiliation with antifa, stating they attended the demonstration to express support for immigrants detained at the center.
Prosecutors presented evidence that linked the defendants to antifa, while the defense argued that the group consisted of young individuals with good intentions who wanted their voices heard. Philip Hayes, Song's attorney, stated that his client would appeal the sentence, emphasizing Song's background as a former Marine and a good student, qualities he believes were overlooked by the judge.
One of the defendants, Daniel Sanchez Estrada, was convicted of corruptly concealing a document and conspiracy to conceal documents. Others pleaded guilty to providing material support to terrorists rather than face trial.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order last fall designating antifa as a domestic terrorist organization, a move that critics warned could impact First Amendment free-speech rights for organizations operating within the United States. Antifa, short for “anti-fascists,” is described as an umbrella term for far-left militant groups that confront neo-Nazis and white supremacists at demonstrations.
This sentencing follows a recent case in Minnesota where federal prosecutors charged 15 individuals with impeding the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. Those defendants were also claimed by prosecutors to be members of antifa who allegedly conspired against the federal government by establishing blockades and throwing ice at federal vehicles to obstruct arrests and deportations.