FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) 鈥� Eight protesters accused by the Justice Department of having were sentenced Tuesday to decades in federal prison over a shooting outside a Texas immigration detention center that wounded a police officer and prosecutors called an act of terrorism.
One of the defendants, a former U.S. Marine Corps reservist convicted of opening fire during the July 4 demonstration outside the Prairieland Detention Center near Dallas, was sentenced to 100 years in prison, the maximum punishment.
The lengthy sentences were condemned by family members and supporters in a news conference outside the federal courthouse in Fort Worth. Hope Song, whose son received the heftiest sentence, disputed prosecutors’ claims that her son shot the officer and said he didn’t intend to hurt anyone.
U.S. District Judge Reed O鈥機onnor, one of two judges overseeing the proceedings, said what happened wasn鈥檛 a protest but 鈥渁n assault on democracy.鈥�
鈥淭he need to deter this type of conduct is high,鈥� O鈥機onnor said.
The seven other protesters received prison terms ranging from 30 to 70 years.
Prosecutors said the eight are members of antifa, a decentralized anti-fascist organization and of the Trump administration. Antifa is not a single organization but rather an umbrella term for far-left militant groups that confront or resist neo-Nazis and white supremacists at demonstrations.
President Donald Trump last fall signed an executive order designating antifa a domestic terrorist organization, even though there is no domestic equivalent to the State Department鈥檚 list of foreign terror organizations.
The defendants deny any affiliation with antifa and maintain they attended the demonstration in support of detained immigrants.
Prosecutor Frank Gatto urged the judge to impose stiff penalties.
鈥淧eople with that kind of extremist beliefs need extra time in prison,鈥� Gatto said. 鈥淭hey believe violence is justified.鈥�
Phillip Hayes, Song鈥檚 attorney, said outside the courthouse that he takes issue with the idea that the protesters are extremists.
“This is a bunch of kids and young adults who really have a really big heart and really wanted their voice to be heard,鈥� Hayes said. 鈥淚t was never intended that anybody get hurt. It was never intended that any shots would be fired.鈥�
Prosecutors said in court that Song had yelled 鈥済et to the rifles鈥� and opened fire, striking a police officer who had just pulled up to the center.
Hayes argued that Song鈥檚 shots were 鈥渟uppressive fire鈥� and that a ricochet bullet hit the officer after he arrived on the scene and 鈥渁ggressively鈥� pulled out his firearm. He said his client will appeal the 100-year sentence.
鈥淪ong, aside from this day, has had an impeccable life. A former Marine. A good student,鈥� Hayes said. 鈥淗e had a lot of good qualities that were just ignored. The judge went ahead and gave as much as he could.鈥�
Other defendants and their family members pleaded for leniency in court.
Autumn Hill said the gathering 鈥渟eemed more like a party to me than anything else” and that she and others who participated “didn鈥檛 expect or want any violence or destruction of property to occur.鈥�
Amber Lowrey told the judge that her sister, Savanna Batten, is a compassionate person with dreams of opening a bakery. She said Batten’s activism started with animal rights and evolved into anti-war and human rights advocacy.
鈥淪he鈥檚 the best person I know,鈥� Lowrey said.
Hill and Batten both received 50-year sentences.
Other defendants previously pleaded guilty to providing material support to terrorists rather than take their case to trial.
Critics warn the case could have wide-reaching impact on protests given that organizations operating within the U.S. are supposed to be protected by First Amendment free-speech rights.
Last week, federal prosecutors with impeding the Trump administration鈥檚 in Minnesota. They claimed the demonstrators were members of antifa who conspired against the federal government to block arrests and deportations by setting up blockades around government buildings and throwing chunks of ice at federal vehicles, among other actions.
___
Marcelo reported from New York. Associated Press journalist Kendria LaFleur contributed.
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
