Eleven people have been arrested in what law enforcement described as a “planned ambush” of corrections officers at an ICE detention facility in Alvarado, Texas, on July 4.
One Alvarado police officer was shot in the neck during the attack and is expected to survive.
“Early reports indicate that more than a dozen masked individuals dressed in black arrived at the Prairieland ICE detention facility late Friday night and vandalized vehicles and security cameras in the parking lot,” CBS News reported. “The individuals launched fireworks in an apparent effort to lure law enforcement.”
On July 5, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche posted on X, “We are closely monitoring the attacks on DHS detention facilities in Prairieland, TX, and Portland, OR, and are coordinating with the USAOs and our law enforcement partners. The Department has zero tolerance for assaults on federal officers or property and will bring the full weight of the law against those responsible.”
We are closely monitoring the attacks on DHS detention facilities in Prairieland, TX, and Portland, OR, and are coordinating with the USAOs and our law enforcement partners. The Department has zero tolerance for assaults on federal officers or property and will bring the full…
— Todd Blanche (@DAGToddBlanche) July 5, 2025
On Monday, acting U.S. Attorney Nancy Larson stated, “We’re here to tell you that late at night on July 4, Friday night at approximately 10:37 p.m. at the Prairieland ICE detention center in Alvarado, Texas, ten to twelve individuals dressed in black, military-style clothing, began shooting fireworks and engaging in acts of vandalism at the facility and this was part of an organized attack.”
“Today, my office has charged ten individuals with three counts of attempted murder of a federal officer,” she continued. “Each of the ten are also charged with three counts of discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. Each of these defendants faces a mandatory prison term of ten years and up to life in prison. An additional co-conspirator was charged with an obstruction of justice and conspiracy for attempting to conceal and destroy evidence in relation to the attack, and he faces up to ten years in prison.”
“Let’s discuss the incident,” she continued. “It was a planned ambush with the intent to kill ICE corrections officers. Make no mistake; this was not a so-called ‘peaceful protest.’ It was, indeed, an ambush.”