WASHINGTON, D.C. (Michigan News Source) – Most Americans would probably agree that shooting a police officer in the neck during an armed attack on a federal detention facility is not an ideal life choice. Neither is launching fireworks, vandalizing property, and disguising violence as a “protest.” A federal jury and two federal judges agreed.

This week, eight members of what prosecutors described as a North Texas Antifa cell received prison sentences ranging from 30 to 100 years for their roles in a July 2025 attack on the ICE-operated Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas. According to federal prosecutors, the group planned and carried out a coordinated assault on the facility using firearms, explosives, vandalism and military-style tactics. Prosecutors characterized the operation as an act of domestic terrorism.

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The most severe sentence went to Benjamin Song, a former Marine reservist convicted of attempted murder after authorities said he shot an Alvarado police lieutenant in the neck. He received a 100-year prison sentence.

Tlaib pushes back.

But Michigan Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, a Palestinian and a Muslim who represents Michigan’s 12th Congressional District which includes much of Detroit, was not impressed with the outcome. Following the sentencing of the terrorists, Tlaib condemned the penalties on social media, calling them “a travesty” and arguing that the punishments were excessive. She also criticized the government’s use of terrorism-related charges in the case.

The comments immediately generated backlash from conservatives, law enforcement supporters and others who pointed out that one officer nearly lost his life during the attack and that all terrorists should be punished with harsh sentences.

Matt Van Swol, a former nuclear scientist for the U.S. Dept. of Energy posted the comment, “THEY LITERALLY SHOT AN OFFICER AND PLANNED A MASS TERRORISM EVENT…AND YOU ARE DEFENDING THEM?!!!! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!!!”

Others piled on Tlaib, including Andy Ngo, an independent journalist who has spent years documenting Antifa activity and political violence.

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For many observers, the case seemed fairly straightforward: a group of activists launched an armed attack on a federal detention facility, a police officer was nearly killed, a jury convicted them and they were sentenced. Tlaib, however, apparently looked at the same facts and concluded that the real injustice was the prison sentences. Whether that position plays well outside of radical activist circles remains to be seen.