These legal actions come after President Donald Trump’s September declaration labeling antifa as a ‘domestic terrorist organization’.
Published On 17 Oct 2025
In a historic move, federal prosecutors in Texas have brought terrorism-related charges against individuals linked to antifa, marking the first instance of such legal action, as confirmed by FBI Director Kash Patel.
The announcement, made on Thursday, references President Donald Trump’s recent classification of the far-left activist group as a terrorist entity.
Two men, Cameron Arnold from Dallas and Zachary Evetts from Waxahachie, Texas, were formally charged on Wednesday with providing material support to terrorists. Their alleged involvement centers on a July incident where a police officer was shot but survived at an immigration detention center. Both were apprehended alongside eight others and face charges including attempted murder and weapons violations.
According to court documents, none of the accused have yet entered pleas, though Arnold and Evetts are scheduled to do so during a hearing on October 22.
Arnold’s defense attorney, Cody Cofer, expressed readiness to advocate for his client in court.
Meanwhile, Patrick McLain, representing Evetts, maintains his client’s innocence and contends that the terrorism allegations are politically motivated additions by prosecutors.
“There is no evidence presented by the prosecution to substantiate these charges,” McLain told Reuters.
FBI Director Patel highlighted the significance of the arrests on social media, stating, “For the first time ever, the FBI has detained Antifa-affiliated anarchist extremists and filed terrorism charges related to the July 4 attack on the Prairieland ICE facility in Texas.”
It is important to note that Arnold and Evetts face charges of supporting terrorists in general, distinct from the specific legal accusation of backing a designated terrorist organization.
Following the September assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and amid widespread demonstrations against federal immigration enforcement in cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland, Oregon, Trump and Republican lawmakers have accused antifa members of inciting political violence.
In September, Trump issued an executive order officially labeling antifa as a “terrorist” group. However, some experts in national security law have questioned the legal validity of this designation, citing antifa’s lack of centralized leadership or formal organizational structure.
The federal indictment filed in Texas on Wednesday alleges that Arnold and Evetts were part of an antifa “cell” responsible for the July 4 assault on the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Alvarado, Texas.
Interestingly, earlier charging documents and public statements from prosecutors did not reference antifa.
According to prosecutors, the group involved in the Prairieland Detention Facility attack engaged in activities such as setting off fireworks and damaging vehicles before an unidentified co-conspirator opened fire on law enforcement officers protecting the site, injuring a local police officer in the neck.
