Decades-long sentences announced in shooting at Alvarado ICE facility

Sentences are being announced for the people convicted on terrorism charges in connection with last year’s shootout at the Prairieland ICE Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas. The attack happened almost a year ago, on July 4, 2025.

The alleged organizer, Benjamin Song, was sentenced to 100 years in prison; he could have received as little as 20 years or up to life.

Prosecutors said Benjamin Song, a former U.S. Marine Corps reservist, yelled “get to the rifles” and opened fire, striking one police officer who had just pulled up to the center. Though it was Song who opened fire, prosecutors charged several other protesters with attempted murder of an officer and discharging a firearm as well, but they were found not guilty. The prosecution had argued that from the group’s planning, it was foreseeable to those others that a shooting could happen.

Maricela Rueda was sentenced to 70 years. Savanna Batten, Zachary Evetts, Autumn Hill, Meagan Morris, and Elizabeth Soto were sentenced to 600 months (approx. 50 years).

Read more: NBC Dallas Fort-Worth