A violent assault on a Texas immigration detention center has exposed a dangerous undercurrent of far-left extremism.
The New York Post reported that on July 4, 2025, a group clad in black military-style gear opened fire at the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, wounding a police officer in the neck. The audacity of attacking a federal facility on Independence Day raises alarms about radical ideologies festering in plain sight.
Eleven suspects, including former U.S. Marine Corps reservist Benjamin Song, were arrested for their roles in the attack.
The group, some tied to a Dallas-based left-wing extremist network, faces serious charges, including attempted murder of federal officers and firearm violations. The attack unfolded with chilling precision, as the group sprayed gunfire and defaced the facility with anti-ICE graffiti.
A vehicle was vandalized with the phrase "Ice Pig," while a guard structure bore the words "F*** you pigs." Such rhetoric betrays a deep-seated contempt for law enforcement, cloaked in misguided revolutionary zeal.
The suspects reportedly coalesced during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, a time of widespread unrest.
What began as social justice activism morphed into a focused crusade against ICE enforcement, according to court documents. This shift from demonstration to armed aggression underscores the peril of unchecked radicalization.
Benjamin Song, the alleged ringleader, is accused of training group members in combat tactics. He reportedly held weekly sessions to prepare them for "close quarters combat and large-scale gunfights." A former reservist turning his skills against federal agents is a stark betrayal of service.
Corey Lyon, a libertarian who briefly attended Song’s training, described the recruits as “very young, naïve leftists.” He claimed they were “scared” and saw Song as offering “a solution for their fear.” Lyon’s words paint a picture of vulnerable idealists manipulated into violence, a tactic as old as extremism itself.
Authorities recovered an arsenal at the scene, including firearms, ammunition magazines, and 12 sets of body armor.
Song is accused of purchasing four of the guns used in the attack, directly implicating him in the planning. The presence of such heavy armament suggests a premeditated intent to inflict serious harm.
Court documents reveal a flyer from the attack proclaiming, "Fight ICE terror with class war!" This slogan, paired with the group’s actions, exposes a warped ideology that equates federal immigration enforcement with oppression. It’s a narrative that thrives on division, not dialogue.
The injured officer, shot in the neck, survived, but the attack could have been far deadlier. The group’s choice to target a detention center—a symbol of immigration policy—reflects a broader rejection of lawful authority. Their actions demand accountability, not applause from the fringes.
All 11 suspects, including Song, face charges of attempted murder, firearm violations, and obstruction of justice for concealing evidence.
Two of the arrested, Autumn Hill and Meagan Morris, are transgender, a detail that adds complexity but doesn’t change the gravity of their alleged crimes. Justice must focus on actions, not identities.
Song’s capture in Dallas after a weeklong manhunt marked a critical break in the case. His leadership role, from training to arming the group, places him at the heart of this conspiracy. The idea of a former Marine orchestrating such an attack is a gut punch to those who value service.
The group’s ties to a Dallas-based anti-fascist network raise questions about how many others share their radical bent.
While it’s unclear how deeply each suspect was involved with the group, their collective actions point to a shared ideology. This isn’t just a lone wolf problem—it’s a pack.
The Prairieland attack is a wake-up call about the dangers of extremist groups exploiting legitimate grievances. The 2020 protests provided fertile ground for radicalization, and this group’s pivot to violence shows how quickly ideals can curdle. Conservatives and progressives alike should condemn this reckless escalation.
Lyon’s observation that Song’s trainees were “naïve” and “scared” suggests a predatory dynamic at play. Manipulating impressionable youth into armed conflict is not activism—it’s exploitation. True reform comes through ballots, not bullets.
