Reproduced below is a section from the December 10, 2025 publication of In Contempt, which is a monthly report on prison rebels, State repression, and news from an abolitionist perspective.
Prairieland Defendants
The state has seriously escalated repression over the now 18 people facing charges from the immigrant solidarity demonstration at the Prairieland ICE Detention Center on July 4, 2025. Under the new “domestic terrorism” orders targeting “antifa.”

The DFW Support Committee has reported that after 12 more defendants were federally indicted under new charges, including rioting, attempted murder, and material support for terrorism, with federal prosecutors offering early plea deals recommending sentences of up to 15 years in prison, 9 defendants plead guilty.
Fortunately, 9 defendants––Savanna Batten, Zachary Evetts, Autumn Hill, Meagan Morris, Maricela Rueda, Daniel “Des” Rolando Sanchez Estrada, Benjamin Song, Elizabeth Soto, and Ines Soto––plead not guilty, refusing to collaborate against their co-defendants, fighting their bogus, politically-motivated charges, and taking their cases to trial.
According to a recent statement by the DFW Support Committee,
“The superseding indictment makes unproven claims, mischaracterizes facts, and takes quotes out of context,” said Stephanie Shiver, wife of defendant Meagan Morris. “Claims of adherence to a political ideology like anti-fascism, whether true or not, are not grounds to charge someone with terrorism and do not belong in an indictment,” continued Shiver. “By associating the Prairieland case with Antifa, the government is using terrorism charges to spread fear and intimidation, and to carry out sweeping political repression.”
Prejudicial statements related to these cases have been made repeatedly by officials at the highest levels of government, undermining the defendants’ ability to get a fair trial. The Trump administration has publicly claimed that the Prairieland case is the first legal case against Antifa, while Trump declared Antifa a domestic terrorist organization. On September 25, the White House released the National Security Presidential Memorandum-7 (NSPM-7), which ordered all federal law enforcement agencies to prioritize combating Antifa as a domestic terrorism threat. FBI director Kash Patel has called the Prairieland defendants “Antifa-aligned anarchist violent extremists,” sharing Fox News coverage of the case on X.
Yet, supporters are refuting the claims of terrorism and planned violence. “As the Prairieland case progresses, it looks more and more like a protest case involving people expressing solidarity with detained immigrants,” said Amber Lowrey, sister of defendant Savanna Batten. “The federal government is trying to reframe protest activity as terrorism, and we’re seeing this attempted across the country, from Chicago to Portland, and now here in Dallas-Fort Worth.”
Federal arraignments for defendants who refused plea deals were held on December 3, and sentencing hearings for those who took the plea deals will be held at the Ft. Worth Federal Courthouse on March 12 and March 19.
The DFW Support Committee has announced that they’ve raised enough money to hire a successful federal defense attorney for one of the defendants. They’re hoping to raise at least $15,000 beyond what they have left so they can retain more attorneys for other defendants. This is especially important given that the federal trials are set to begin on January 5, 2026.
The ongoing fundraiser is available at https://www.givesendgo.com/supportdfwprotestors
On December 9, WordPress.com suspended the website for the DFW Support Committee for alleged terms of services agreement violations: a new site has been launched on Noblogs.
As far as we’re aware, the addresses of the non-cooperating defendants are:
Cameron Arnold #11138-512
(write letter to Autumn Hill)
Benjamin Hanil Song #11137-512
Bradford Morris #11136-512
(write letter to Meagan Morris)
Daniel Rolando Sanchez Estrada #95099-511
Ines Houston Soto #11144-512
Zachary Evetts #11141-512
FMC Fort Worth
Federal Medical Center
P.O. Box 15330
Fort Worth, TX 76119
Elizabeth Soto #100005
Janette Goering #202503019
Joy Gibson #100009
Maricela Rueda #100010
Rebecca Morgan #100008
Savanna Batten #100006
Wichita County Detention Center, TX
P.O. Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131
A regularly updated letter-writing zine with recent updates about the case is available to print and share.
support-dfw-ice-protesters-imposedDownload
Free Des!
Supporters of Des Revol––anarchist, artist, and immigrant being held on ICE hold after bogus charges relating to allegedly moving a box of zines––were heartbroken after Des was released from prison and told that his charges were dismissed which in a cruel twist was a “clerical error,” and now Des is back in custody after voluntarily surrendering himself at FMC Fort Worth surrounded by supporters.
Read the Free Des press release about the cruel events.
Des also released a public statement on December 4:
Hello! First of all. All honor and glory to creator for granting me the miracle of being here.
My name is Daniel Sanchez “Des,” and I’ve lived in the Dallas–Fort Worth area most of my life. I have been incarcerated in a federal facility about 5 months since July 6.
I want to be very clear. I did not participate. I was not aware nor did I have any knowledge about the events that transpired on July 4 outside the Prairieland Detention Center. Despite not having any knowledge or not having been near the area at all, I was violently arrested at gunpoint for allegedly making a “wide turn.” My feeling is that I was only arrested because I’m married to Mari Rueda, who is being accused of being at the noise demo showing support to migrants who are facing deportation under deplorable conditions. For this accusation, she’s being threatened with a life sentence in prison.
My charge is allegedly having a box containing magazine “zines,” books, and artwork. Items that are in the possession of millions of people in the United States. Items that are available free online, and available to purchase at stores and online even at places like Amazon. Items that should be protected under the First Amendment “freedom of speech.” If this is happening to me now, it’s only a matter of time before it happens to you.
I believe there’s been almost 20 people arrested in supposed relation to this public noise demo. More than half of those were arrested days later despite not being in the area and are now facing a slew of outrageous charges, in what seems like a political persecution to instill fear on people exercising their First Amendment right.
On November 2 around 9 a.m. while still in federal custody, I was suddenly ordered to pack all of my property, rushing me and refusing to let me know where I was going. I began to think the worst: that I was being moved away from loved ones for no reason other than to continue to put pressure on me to sign a plea agreement for something I didn’t do. Later on, I was told my charges had been dismissed and I was being released. But since I didn’t hear from my lawyer, I thought they were messing with me. Two hours later, I was being walked out of the prison with no paperwork. It felt like psychological torture, the anxiety, the uncertainty. I imagined they would just wait for me to walk out to arrest me again somehow.
The last few days have been very surreal, and it’s been a roller coaster of emotions. The fear and anxiety that they would raid my loved ones again or try to add more fictitious charges. To the love, joy, and laughter of seeing my family and hugging them one more time after the trauma we all endured. It’s a blessing, and we celebrated my birthday, Xmas, and New Years in one night.
I’m not a violent person. I love people and animals, walking in nature, making art, reading, cooking vegan food for people, teaching kids, and doing fundraisers for people and animals that need help. I co-parent a really cool stepdaughter who is amazing and super funny, and tragically, is now having to live without two of her most important adults, [me and Mari,] who were abruptly taken away from her. I’m thankful for everyone showing her and my family love and care while we overcome this tragic situation.
This has been a confusing, bittersweet moment, embracing my loved ones, just to be taken away from them again. The charges I and others are facing are scary, and I would be lying if I said I’m not scared. I love this country and the promise of freedom of speech, justice, equity, and the pursuit of happiness. I’m not hiding. I’m not fleeing. And obvious I’ve never been a danger to the community. I’m turning myself in for trial because I’m innocent.
With a desire for a world full of love, kindness, empathy, equity, and freedom. Like in sunflowers breaking through concrete. Like butterflies flying freely. Under the same moon. I will continue to walk with dignity. I have faith and living hope in my heart.
Thank you all for the support. I can feel all of your love. I’m beyond grateful for every letter, poem, book, donation, and every prayer.
Honor creator and all existence.
Love your neighbor as yourself.
No one is free, until all are free.
Blessings.
A recent article about Des’s case is available to read on the Intercept, “The Feds Want to Make It Illegal to Even Possess an Anarchist Zine.” A zine version of this article was posted by MBTA Distro.
A public letter is available to sign on to: https://freedes.net/sign-on-letter/
And resources are available from Free Des to print and share, like the “Zines Are Not A Crime” zine or a “Zines Are Not A Crime” button sheet.
Supporters have also been sharing images of Des’s beautiful revolutionary artwork.

Write to Des:
Daniel Rolando Sanchez Estrada #95099-511
FMC Fort Worth
Federal Medical Center
P.O. Box 15330
Fort Worth, TX 76119







