In a significant development during the trial concerning the alleged ambush at the Alvarado ICE Prairieland Detention Center, a lead investigator revealed that co-defendant Meagan Morris felt “duped” and “betrayed” by the supposed mastermind behind the July 4 attack. This testimony emerged amid jurors reviewing discussions among defendants, which included logistics related to firearms, police presence, and strategies to evade surveillance.
The trial has brought to light discord among the nine co-defendants charged in the incident. Among them are Daniel Estrada, Ines Soto, Elizabeth Soto, Maricela Rueda, Bradford Morris, Savanna Batten, Benjamin Song, Zachary Evetts, and Cameron Arnold. They are accused of orchestrating the attack on the ICE facility on July 4, 2025, allegedly under the direction of Benjamin Song, who is also accused of injuring Alvarado Police Department Lt. Thomas Gross during the chaos.
Defense attorneys have contended that the defendants did not ambush the facility, but rather participated in a planned “noise demonstration” aimed at supporting immigration detainees. However, the prosecution maintains that the actions taken were premeditated and dangerous.
During the proceedings, Texas Ranger Tyler Williamson provided crucial testimony. He recounted an interview with Morris conducted shortly after her arrest, where she expressed her suspicions about the intentions of another co-defendant. Williamson quoted her as saying, “I feel disgusted and betrayed,” suggesting that she believed the incident was a setup intended to create a distraction while someone else executed a violent act.
In addition to Morris’s testimony, jurors were presented with evidence from group chats on the Signal messaging app. These communications included discussions about the decision to bring rifles, identifying the location of nearby surveillance cameras, police department locations, as well as weather conditions and exit routes.
The trial is anticipated to last approximately three weeks, with several defendants facing potential life sentences if found guilty. As the case unfolds, it has garnered attention not only for its implications regarding domestic terrorism but also for its connections to broader movements, with prosecutors labeling the defendants as members of a North Texas Antifa cell.
In the aftermath of the July 4 incident, authorities allege that fireworks were set off, property was damaged, and federal officers were shot at, resulting in injuries to an Alvarado police officer who was responding to a 911 call. This case marks a notable moment in legal history, being the first federal indictment linked to alleged Antifa-related domestic terrorism.
As the trial progresses, five additional individuals previously arrested have accepted plea deals and are expected to testify, potentially shedding further light on the events that transpired during the alleged ambush. The defendants continue to assert their innocence, claiming that the gathering was a peaceful protest, with many present not involved in any violent actions.
