Prairieland ICE Detention Center

Nine Defendants in Prairieland ICE Detention Center Protest Case

Plead Not Guilty in Federal Arraignments This Week

Federal Jury Trials Are Scheduled to Start January 5 for Nine Defendants, As Sentencing Hearings Approach in March for Seven Defendants Who Pleaded Guilty Last Month

DALLAS-FORT WORTH, TX — Nine defendants in the Prairieland ICE Detention Center protest case pleaded ‘not guilty’ today to federal charges, including riot, discharging a firearm, attempted murder, providing material support to terrorists, and conspiracy to conceal documents. A federal superseding indictment was filed in the Prairieland case on November 13 by Acting US Attorney Nancy Larson, just four days before Trump appointed former federal prosecutor Ryan Raybould as US Attorney on November 17.

Savanna Batten, Zachary Evetts, Autumn Hill, Meagan Morris, Maricela Rueda, Daniel “Des” Rolando Sanchez Estrada, Benjamin Song, Elizabeth Soto, and Ines Soto pleaded ‘not guilty’ at their federal arraignments on December 3. All nine defendants are fighting their charges by taking their cases to trial. Federal jury trials are scheduled to begin January 5, 2026, in the US District Court for the Northern District of Texas in Fort Worth. Continue reading “Nine Defendants in Prairieland ICE Detention Center Protest Case Plead Not Guilty in Federal Arraignments This Week (USA)” →

Twelve More People Federally Charged in the July 4 Prairieland ICE Detention Center Protest Case

Majority of Defendants Expected to Enter ‘Not Guilty’ Pleas December 3, Refusing Early Plea Offer of Up To 15 Years in Prison

DALLAS-FORT WORTH, TX — Twelve people were federally charged late last week in connection with the immigrant solidarity demonstration at the Prairieland ICE Detention Center on July 4, 2025. The new indictment and charges, including rioting, attempted murder, and material support for terrorism, came as a majority of defendants are expected to plead not guilty on December 3. Notably, federal prosecutors are offering early plea deals with recommended sentences of up to 15 years in prison.

A number of defendants could plead guilty in the coming days as a result of pressure by the federal government. The terms of the plea agreements have not been made public, but some defendants are refusing to cooperate against their codefendants. Historically, in politically motivated cases, defendants who take federal plea deals that involve cooperating with the government against their codefendants have not necessarily received more lenient sentences, and may not lessen the potential legal harm stemming from their corresponding State cases.

“The prosecution is grasping at straws,” said National Lawyers Guild member Kris Hermes. “Plea deals offered this early show the government is desperate for a quick conviction that fits their nonsense ‘Antifa’ narrative. This case is a shoddy attempt to terrorize the movement in solidarity with immigrants, but it’s not going to work.”

The defendants who were federally charged last week were added to the case of Autumn Hill and Zachary Evetts, who were federally indicted last month. US District Court Judge Mark Pittman granted the government’s motion earlier in November to designate the Prairieland case as “complex”, thereby delaying the trials of Hill and Evetts, which were scheduled to start later this month. Another defendant, Daniel Sanchez-Estrada was previously indicted separately and has now been added to this case, and his trial has been delayed from early December, as originally scheduled. It’s now unclear when Hill, Evetts, Sanchez-Estrada, and the other defendants will go to trial. Continue reading “U$A: Twelve More People Federally Charged in the July 4 Prairieland ICE Detention Center Protest Case” →