Texas anti-ICE protest convictions yield decades-long prison sentences

Nine Texas protesters were convicted on terrorism-related charges for a July 4 protest at an immigrant detention center, receiving sentences ranging from 50 to 100 years (including 70 years for one defendant and 30 years for another non-participant). Prosecutors framed the group as a 'North Texas antifa cell' and argued the acts were premeditated violence and material support for terrorists, while defense critics said the case criminalizes dissent and relied on contested evidence such as zines and encrypted messages. The outcome is viewed as a test of the Trump administration’s crackdown on protest and has spurred similar prosecutions elsewhere.