A federal court in Fort Worth, Texas, handed down sentences on Wednesday to seven additional defendants linked to a July 4, 2025, protest outside the Prairieland Detention Center near Dallas, which culminated in a police officer being shot.

Six of the defendants pleaded guilty to providing material support to terrorism and received prison terms ranging from nearly two to 15 years. The seventh, Ines Soto, was sentenced to 50 years for providing material support to terrorists, rioting, and conspiracy to carry an explosive.

The protest was against President Donald Trump's mass deportation policies. During the demonstration, former US Marine reservist Benjamin Song allegedly shot and wounded a police officer who had just arrived at the center. Song reportedly shouted, “Get out the rifles,” before opening fire.

The Trump administration labeled the protest an act of terrorism, and 19 people were arrested. Some detainees were not present at the protest but were accused of being part of an “antifa cell.” The Justice Department argued that bringing firearms, first aid kits, and body armor indicated nefarious intent.

Civil liberties advocates warn the case could have broad implications for protesters nationwide and test First Amendment free speech protections. Defense lawyers deny links to antifa, arguing that firearms were carried for self-protection under the Second Amendment, and fireworks were a show of support for detained immigrants.

Earlier, on June 23, eight defendants who stood trial received lengthy sentences: Song got 100 years, and others received 30 to 70 years, totaling 450 years. Several defendants, including Song and Sanchez Estrada, have filed appeals. US District Judge Reed O'Connor stated the event was not a protest but an “assault on democracy.”

Source: www.aljazeera.com