(ALVARADO, TEXAS) Two people arrested in connection with a July 4 attack at the Prairieland Detention Center in Johnson County now face federal, terrorism-related charges, authorities said. As of October 17, 2025, prosecutors have charged Autumn Hill and Zachary Evetts with providing material support to terrorists and attempting to murder officers and employees of the U.S. government. The incident took place at the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, a facility that holds immigration detainees.
According to law enforcement accounts, a group dressed in black, wearing masks, and armed with firearms vandalized vehicles and a guard structure, set off fireworks, and fired an AR-15-style rifle at responding police, injuring one officer. Authorities say the attackers brought 10 firearms to the facility and used them during the assault. Hill and Evetts are among those accused of taking part. Officials allege the group was tied to an antifa cell. The investigation is ongoing, and federal officials have not announced any plea positions for the defendants.
The case has alarmed both immigration workers and local residents who say the violence pierced what was supposed to be a holiday evening.
Federal charges and alleged conduct
Prosecutors say the actions on July 4, 2025 crossed into terrorism-related offenses because they targeted federal personnel and aimed to intimidate or coerce through violence. The charges include:
- Providing material support to terrorists
- Attempting to murder officers and employees of the U.S. government
Officials state that one responding officer was injured when the group allegedly fired an AR-15-style rifle at police. The attack also included property damage: vehicles were vandalized, and part of a guard structure was defaced. Fireworks were set off during the chaos, which investigators say added confusion as officers arrived.
Defense counsel for Hill and Evetts has not issued any statements within the material provided. No trial dates were listed. Given the nature of the counts, the case will likely move in federal court, where terrorism-related charges carry heavy penalties. Prosecutors have not disclosed whether further arrests are expected, only that Hill and Evetts are facing the current slate of charges.
The Prairieland Detention Center is operated in connection with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and houses noncitizens in civil immigration custody. For official facility information and detention standards, readers can consult the ICE website’s facility page for Prairieland through ICE website’s facility page for Prairieland detention center. Authorities did not report any detainee injuries stemming from the July 4 incident in the information provided here.
Key facts about the attack
Officials described these elements of the attack:
- The group arrived masked and dressed in black.
- They brought 10 firearms to the site and used them.
- They vandalized vehicles and a guard structure.
- They set off fireworks as police responded.
- They fired an AR-15-style rifle, injuring one officer.
The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Federal indictments cited in the source material include counts for providing material support to terrorists and attempted murder of U.S. officers or employees. Prosecutors allege the actions were planned and carried out with the aim of causing harm and disrupting operations at the Texas facility.
Context and community impact
The attack is part of a wider pattern of tense confrontations around immigration enforcement in Texas, where protests against ICE and broader federal border actions have grown more frequent. Some of those protests have remained peaceful; others have, at times, turned destructive, according to the background context supplied with the case details. VisaVerge.com reports that protests tied to immigration enforcement have increasingly drawn counterprotests and a larger police presence across the state, reflecting deep divisions over federal detention and removal operations.
While the allegations in this case focus on Hill and Evetts, the backdrop includes public debates over immigration enforcement strategy and the role of detention in the system. Families with loved ones in custody often describe long waits, sudden transfers, and limited contact, while officers and facility staff say they face rising threats and unpredictable crowd activity outside their workplaces. Community leaders in North Texas have urged calm and warned that violent acts will only harden positions on both sides.
Legal analysts note that the terrorism-related charges signal rising federal attention on plots or attacks aimed at government personnel, facilities, or contractors involved in immigration functions. The source material also notes that some officials have spoken of antifa as a domestic terror threat, which has fueled debate about speech rights, policing, and how federal law defines terrorism in domestic contexts. These arguments are likely to shadow the courtroom process as motions, evidence fights, and jury selection unfold.
For immigrants in civil detention, the July 4 episode is another reminder that facilities can attract outside conflict, even though detainees are not part of the criminal justice system. Families who call the facility, lawyers who visit clients, and advocates who hold vigils say they are now more mindful of the risk of clashes near the gates. Local residents in Alvarado have expressed worry about the potential for future unrest around the facility, which sits in a quiet area south of Fort Worth.
Immigration workers at the Prairieland Detention Center have continued their normal duties, according to the information provided, even as security measures remain a focal point for management and local law enforcement. Staff have faced verbal threats and sometimes protests, but an armed attack of this nature is rare and rattled employees who spoke about safety in the days after the incident.
Legal and policy implications
The case reflects a broader national debate about the line between protest and violence. Political voices across the spectrum have called for lawful expression and warned against actions that put people at risk. The material provided notes that officials who label antifa as terrorists have drawn pushback from civil-liberties advocates who worry about casting a wide net over dissent. That dispute is a policy fight as much as a legal one, and it will likely continue regardless of how this case ends.
Federal agents are pursuing the investigation surrounding the July 4 attack at the Prairieland Detention Center. Hill and Evetts remain charged with terrorism-related offenses tied to the Texas facility; additional updates are expected from the U.S. Department of Justice as the case proceeds through the courts.
Officials have urged the public to:
- Avoid actions that could inflame tensions near detention sites.
- Report suspicious activity to local police.
This Article in a Nutshell
On July 4, 2025, a masked, armed group attacked the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, vandalizing property, setting off fireworks, and firing weapons that injured one responding officer. Investigators say attackers brought 10 firearms and used an AR-15-style rifle. On October 17, 2025, federal prosecutors charged Autumn Hill and Zachary Evetts with providing material support to terrorists and attempting to murder U.S. officers and employees. Authorities allege ties to an antifa cell and continue a multi-agency investigation. The case raises legal and policy debates about the line between protest and terrorism, with potential federal court proceedings and wider implications for detention facility security and community safety.
