Texas Men Face Federal Terrorism Charges in Alleged Antifa-Linked Attack on ICE Facility:

For the first time, federal prosecutors in Texas have filed terrorism charges in a case tied to antifa, according to FBI Director Kash Patel. The charges stem from a 2024 attack on an immigration detention center near Dallas. Two Texas men, Cameron Arnold of Dallas and Zachary Evetts of Waxahachie, have been charged with providing material support to terrorists for their alleged involvement in a violent July 4 attack on the Prairieland Detention Facility, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) site located in Alvarado, Texas. The charges, filed Wednesday in a Texas federal court, follow their earlier arrests in July alongside eight other individuals. Arnold and Evetts had previously been charged with attempted murder and weapons offenses but now face the added weight of terrorism-related allegations. According to the newly unsealed indictment, the two men are accused of being part of an antifa-aligned anarchist "cell" that launched an attack on the facility. Prosecutors allege the group used fireworks to create chaos, vandalized several vehicles, and that one member opened fire on law enforcement officers, striking a local police officer in the neck. The officer survived the injury. No antifa references were made in the original charges, and the term's sudden appearance in the new indictment has drawn criticism from defense attorneys, who suggest political motives may be at play. "This case seems more about headlines than justice," said Patrick McLain, attorney for Zachary Evetts. "My client maintains his innocence, and we have yet to see any evidence supporting the charges—let alone those of terrorism." Cody Cofer, representing Arnold, expressed confidence in the legal process. "We look forward to defending Mr. Arnold in court and addressing these allegations directly at trial." Both defendants have not yet entered pleas but are scheduled to do so at a hearing on October 22. FBI Director Kash Patel announced the charges on social media, calling them a milestone: "First time ever: the FBI arrested Antifa-aligned anarchist violent extremists and terrorism charges have been brought for the July 4 Prairieland ICE attack in Texas." The case has also reignited debate over President Donald Trump's controversial move to designate antifa as a terrorist organization. In September, Trump signed an executive order formally labeling the far-left movement as such, despite objections from legal scholars and civil rights advocates who argue that antifa lacks a centralized structure and cannot be classified as a terrorist group under U.S. law. The timing of the charges has also raised eyebrows, coming just weeks after the high-profile assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, which has intensified political tensions and sparked widespread protests against federal immigration policies in cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland. Despite the political rhetoric, the indictment does not charge Arnold or Evetts with supporting a specific terrorist organization. Instead, it accuses them of providing support to terrorists more broadly— a charge that carries significant legal consequences if proven in court. As the case moves forward, it is likely to draw national attention, not only for its legal implications but also for the broader political and ideological battles surrounding antifa, protest movements, and federal law enforcement’s role in addressing domestic extremism.

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