Ten Charged After Plot In Alvarado, Texas
Federal authorities have confirmed that the July 4th shooting of a police officer near an ICE facility in Alvarado, Texas, was not an isolated act of violence, but part of a broader and deliberate ambush targeting federal law enforcement. The injured officer, struck in the neck, survived the attack and has since been released from the hospital. However, new details provided by Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy Larson paint a far more alarming picture of the incident.
“This was a planned ambush with the intent to kill ICE corrections officers,” Larson stated during a Monday press briefing. “Make no mistake, this was not a peaceful protest. It was indeed an ambush.”
BREAKING: Ten suspects have been arrested in Alvarado, TX and charged with attempted murder for plotting an ambush on ICE agents.
pic.twitter.com/ITmBsIhBF6— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) July 8, 2025
According to federal investigators, the assailants—ten individuals now facing federal charges—were armed and outfitted in black military-style clothing, body armor, and face masks. Several were covered in mud, suggesting efforts to conceal themselves in the terrain. The group was carrying propaganda with messages such as “Resist fascism,” “Fight oligarchy,” and “Fight ICE terror.”
Before the shooting, the group reportedly detonated fireworks outside the federal facility, a tactic described by officials as a lure. Two unarmed ICE employees exited the building to investigate the disturbance and were confronted by vandals with flashlights, spray-painting slogans such as “Traitor” and “ICE Pig” on the building and nearby vehicles.
An Alvarado police officer responded to reports of suspicious activity and was immediately met with gunfire. Authorities described the attack as coordinated and premeditated. The officer's survival was termed "fortunate" given the nature of the assault and the firepower involved.
FBI Dallas SAC Rothrock spoke this afternoon at a press conference announcing charges against 10 individuals for attacking the Prairieland Detention Center and wounding an Alvarado Police Officer this weekend. pic.twitter.com/xDVbEomjul
— FBI Dallas (@FBIDallas) July 8, 2025
Larson confirmed that ten individuals, along with one co-conspirator, will face serious federal charges, including attempted murder of a federal officer. All are expected to face lengthy prison sentences if convicted.
The attack is part of a concerning pattern of escalating violence directed at federal personnel. The Department of Homeland Security recently reported a 700% increase in assaults on ICE agents compared to the same period last year.
Authorities have not yet released the names of the suspects, but emphasized the severity of the charges and the likelihood of additional legal action. “This was an attempt to carry out lethal violence against federal officers,” Larson said. “We will pursue full accountability.”