Who Isn’t a Domestic Terrorist: 19th Prairieland Defendant Should Concern Us All
“We cannot take lightly the federal government's expansive repression and persecution of anti-ICE and anti-fascist activism. On July 4, 2025, community members gathered at the Prairieland ICE Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, as part of a noise demonstration, expressing solidarity through fireworks and their voices. After allegations of sudden, unexpected gunshots, state and federal agents arrested everyone they could, raided houses, surveilled phone calls, seized property, and have accused people of terrorism and more. To date, there are 19 Prairieland Defendants with an amalgamation of extreme state and federal charges. Just like the government quickly called Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti "domestic terrorists," it has been doing so to pro-immigrant folks in North Texas for months, under the guise of a non-existent "North Texas Antifa Cell." The first federal trial of this unprecedented prosecution is scheduled for February 17.”
- Xavier T. de Janon, Director of Mass Defense, National Lawyers Guild
This below originally posted on the website of the National Lawyers Guild – a Protect the Protest coalition member.
The Trump administration and the State of Texas continue their campaign to paint anyone as a “domestic terrorist”. This time, they arrested Lucy, the 19th Prairieland Defendant, under accusations of Hindering Prosecution of Terrorism. Why? For allegedly having Signal calls and teaching folks how to delete Signal messages.
These cases in North Texas should concern us all. They are showing in real time the lengths that the government will go to bring to life their fantasies of “Antifa”. While dealing with a completely unrelated case in an entirely different county, three prosecutors demanded that Lucy participate in a “free talk” with their agents: the Tarrant County District Attorney, Johnson County District Attorney, and U.S. Attorney General. Despite the way they confidently talk about the Prairieland Defendants, the multiple prosecutors are still looking for information on the July 4th noise demonstration and subsequent events.
Shortly after, federal and state agents arrested Lucy under these extremely questionable charges. Tellingly, the government only arrested her after failing to get her to “free talk”, months after it already had the alleged information against her. In jail, the State’s pressure campaign continues against Lucy.
But Lucy’s case is just the newest shocking development in the government’s first “Antifa” prosecution and broader agenda of repression. Des, a Green Card holder, is federally indicted for allegedly moving a box of zines. Savanna and others have federal and state indictments despite being arrested far from where the shooting allegedly happened. Dario, currently the only defendant not in pretrial detention, was indicted in Johnson County for allegedly removing someone from a group chat. Meanwhile, the State’s raids and repression have continued unchecked, including an invasive search and seizure of the house of a Denton City Council candidate.
The NLG has stood firmly in solidarity with the Prairieland Defendants since we learned about their prosecutions. It is urgent that this solidarity is joined by every organization, group, and individual who cares about liberty and justice. Why should we trust the government’s allegations against an anti-ICE noise demonstration when it will quickly call the victim of an ICE killing, Renee Nicole Good, a “domestic terrorist”?
Support NLG’s work: nlg.org/donate
Donate to the DFW Support Committee: givesendgo.com/supportDFWprotestors
Learn more about the Prairieland Defendants: prairielanddefendants.com
