December 4, 2025
Supporters Say Pretrial Detention is Being Used by the Government to Hinder Defense and Maintain a Dominant Narrative in the Media
FORT WORTH, TX – One of the defendants in the Prairieland ICE Detention Center protest cases surrendered to federal authorities today. Daniel “Des” Rolando Sanchez Estrada was released last week on November 26 due
to what his lawyers speculate was a clerical error. Sanchez Estrada visited family and friends last week before surrendering, as the Department of Justice (DOJ) could move to renew a pretrial detention order imposed at the time of his arrest. Sanchez Estrada is expected to be sent back to Federal Medical Center, Fort Worth, where some of his co-defendants are being held, including two transgender women who have been misgendered by federal authorities.
“I’m so happy that I’ve gotten to hug some favorite people and cry with them, and hear so many hopeful feelings,” said Sanchez Estrada before surrendering to federal authorities. “The amount of prayers and all the
efforts that people are doing to support me and others is beyond believable, and we all feel super blessed.”
Although he was not present at the solidarity noise demonstration held at the Prairieland ICE Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, on July 4, 2025, around which the case centers, Sanchez Estrada was included in a superseding indictment filed by the DOJ on November 14, along with eight other defendants. Sanchez Estrada was arrested two days later on July 6 during a traffic stop, for allegedly transporting printed political
material—activity that is clearly protected by the First Amendment. He has nevertheless been federally charged with corruptly concealing a document or record and conspiracy to conceal documents.
The Prairieland cases stem from a noise demonstration in solidarity with detainees at the Prairieland ICE Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, on July 4, 2025. Toward the end of the demonstration, an officer with the
Alvarado Police Department arrived and allegedly quickly became involved in an exchange of gunfire. The officer sustained minor injuries and was released from the hospital shortly afterwards. Ten people were arrested
at the scene or shortly after, and a manhunt ensued in the subsequent days for another defendant. Eight more defendants were arrested in the days and weeks following the protest.
Sanchez Estrada’s surrender comes as he and his eight federal co-defendants pleaded ‘not guilty’ this week to a variety of federal charges, including riot, discharging a firearm, attempted murder, and providing material support to terrorists. All nine defendants are fighting their charges by taking their cases to trial. Federal jury trials are expected to be scheduled soon by in the US District Court for the Northern District of Texas in Fort Worth.
“I believe in a world where there’s more kindness, care, empathy, and love,” continued Sanchez Estrada. “I don’t want to hurt anyone; it’s the reason why I’ve been vegan over eighteen years of my life. I respect and honor all existence, and hold these things very sacred. Despite all adversity and fear, I try to remain hopeful and positive, and not let this destroy my life and happiness.”
Prejudicial and sweeping statements related to these cases have been made repeatedly by officials at the highest levels of government, polluting the perceptions of the public from which the jury will be drawn and 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,” referring to Trump’s recent declaration that “Antifa”—an informal set of anti-authoritarian beliefs—is 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.
Many of those charged in connection with this matter have faced both state and federal charges. Because of this, most defendants are being held in pre-trial custody on exorbitant bonds of up to $15 million in their state cases, despite not representing a flight risk or a danger to the community. Even though Sanchez Estrada does not face state charges, he has been held for months on a pretrial detention order requested by the DOJ. Supporters believe that pretrial detention is being used by the government to impede defendants’ access to counsel, support, and investigative resources, as well as the media.
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For more information on the federal case against Daniel “Des” Rolando Sanchez Estrada and the Free Des Support Committee: freedes.net
https://www.gofundme.com/f/get-artist-des-revol-an-immigration-attorney
CONTACT:
Free Des Support Committee
freedes@riseup.net
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