The Department of Justice has announced terrorism charges against two alleged Antifa members accused of orchestrating a violent July 4 assault on federal law enforcement officers in Texas — marking the first time the government has filed terrorism-related counts against individuals tied to the far-left extremist movement.
An indictment unsealed Thursday in federal court names Cameron Arnold and Zachary Evetts as the defendants. Both men face multiple felony charges, including providing material support for terrorism, attempted murder of federal officers, and discharging firearms during a violent attack. Prosecutors say the two were part of a “North Texas Antifa cell” that coordinated an armed assault near Dallas targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents stationed at the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado.
According to court documents, the group — reportedly consisting of up to nine members — arrived dressed in black tactical gear, with several participants wearing body armor. The attackers allegedly began the assault by launching commercial-grade fireworks at the facility before escalating to live gunfire. Federal prosecutors say both ICE agents and local law enforcement were targeted, with an Alvarado police officer struck in the neck during the exchange.
The indictment describes Antifa as “a militant enterprise made up of individuals and small groups primarily subscribing to a revolutionary anarchist or autonomous Marxist ideology, which explicitly calls for the overthrow of the United States Government.” Authorities say the group was heavily armed, with over 50 firearms recovered, and had conducted prior surveillance of the facility. Encrypted messages obtained by investigators allegedly revealed tactical planning, including detailed facility maps and instructions for avoiding security cameras.
In one exchange cited by prosecutors, a member allegedly wrote, “I’m done with peaceful protests,” followed by another message stating, “Blue lives don’t matter.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi publicly commended the indictment, writing on social media, “Antifa is a left-wing terrorist organization. They will be prosecuted as such.” FBI Director Kash Patel echoed the sentiment, noting that this marks a historic first for federal counterterrorism enforcement. “First time ever: the FBI arrested Antifa-aligned anarchist violent extremists and terrorism charges have been brought for the July 4 Prairieland ICE attack in Texas,” Patel wrote, adding that “under President Trump’s new authorities we’ve made 20+ arrests. No one gets to harm law enforcement. Not on my watch.”
The charges come only weeks after President Donald Trump officially designated Antifa as a terrorist organization, a decision that paved the way for terrorism prosecutions tied to far-left extremist activity. Following the indictment, Trump reaffirmed his administration’s stance on Truth Social, posting, “I am also strongly recommending that those funding ANTIFA be investigated in accordance with the highest legal standards and practices.”
The case represents a significant escalation in the federal government’s effort to combat domestic extremism from all ideological directions. If convicted, Arnold and Evetts could face life in prison. Federal officials confirmed that additional arrests related to the Texas cell are possible as the investigation continues.