Armed Mob Linked to Far-Left Extremist Network Arrested in Texas ICE Detention Center Shooting
ALVARADO, Texas — Federal and local authorities have confirmed the arrest of an armed group accused of carrying out a brazen attack on the Prairieland Detention Center in Johnson County on July 4, 2025. The group, clad in black tactical-style clothing and armed with rifles, opened fire on law enforcement outside the federal immigration detention facility, leaving one officer critically wounded after being shot in the neck.
In the aftermath of the attack, 11 suspects were taken into custody. Court filings and investigative reports allege the group has ties to a secretive far-left extremist network operating in Dallas and surrounding areas, with members reportedly identifying as militant “anti-fascists.”
At the center of the case is Benjamin Hanil Song, a former U.S. Marine Corps reservist, who prosecutors say trained several of the suspects in firearms handling and paramilitary-style tactics. Song, who was captured in Dallas shortly after the attack, has been charged with attempted murder, assault on a federal officer, and other felony counts.
Authorities released evidence photos from the case, including a bulletproof vest, tactical backpack, and ammunition magazines recovered at the scene. Mugshots of the suspects, including Song, were also released, further fueling national debate about the rise of armed extremist groups operating within the U.S.
Investigators allege that the suspects organized under a loose network of anti-government, anti-ICE militants who view federal immigration enforcement as illegitimate. According to the Washington Post, several of those arrested are believed to have trained with Song in private gatherings around North Texas, where firearms drills and self-defense maneuvers were conducted away from public view.
During the assault on July 4, police say the attackers arrived in multiple vehicles, positioned themselves around the detention facility, and began firing at law enforcement officers stationed outside. The chaos left one officer severely injured and triggered an armed standoff that lasted nearly 30 minutes before authorities managed to subdue and arrest several gunmen. Others fled but were later tracked down through surveillance footage and forensic evidence.
Federal prosecutors in the Northern District of Texas emphasized the gravity of the crime during a press briefing, labeling the attack an act of domestic terrorism. “This was a calculated and coordinated assault on federal officers and on a facility housing detainees,” a Justice Department spokesperson stated. “We will pursue the maximum penalties under federal law.”
The arrests have prompted heightened security at immigration detention facilities across Texas and sparked renewed debate about the threat of politically motivated violence. Both left-wing and right-wing extremist networks have been under scrutiny in recent years, with federal agencies warning of the potential for ideologically motivated attacks on government facilities.
Community leaders in Alvarado described the incident as shocking and deeply concerning, particularly given that the detention center is located near residential neighborhoods. Many expressed relief that more lives were not lost during the firefight but stressed that the violence underscored the need for vigilance against extremist activity.
Song and his alleged co-conspirators are being held without bond pending trial. If convicted, they face decades in federal prison. Authorities have stated that additional arrests are possible as the investigation continues into the broader network’s membership, funding, and potential ties to other incidents across Texas.
