Federal authorities released further details Thursday on one of the five suspects tied to the foiled UFC Freedom 250 plot
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed on Thursday, June 18, 2026, that 31-year-old Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez, the alleged ringleader of a foiled terrorist plot targeting the UFC Freedom 250 event held on the White House South Lawn on June 14, 2026, was indeed an illegal alien. Alvarez entered the United States as a child on a B-2 visitor visa that expired in December 2001.
Alvarez was granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) protection in 2014 under the Obama administration, which shielded him from deportation despite his unlawful presence. Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis stated, ‘This illegal alien from Mexico should never have been allowed in our country. He was the ringleader of a failed terror attack targeting UFC Freedom 250 at the White House.’
According to DHS officials, he remained in the country unlawfully for more than two decades after his visa expiration. He is accused of orchestrating the plot, which was disrupted by federal authorities before it could be executed during the high-profile mixed martial arts event on the White House grounds.”
“Alvarez, also known as Abraham Alvarez and using the alias ‘Shepherd’ in encrypted communications, directed plans for a mass-casualty attack involving explosive-laden drones and snipers aimed at government officials and high-profile attendees.
The high-profile event formed part of the 250th anniversary celebrations of the Declaration of Independence, featuring President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and UFC fighters competing on the South Lawn in a heavily secured setting.
Court documents show the plotters intended to detonate drones over the northern side of the arena to trigger panic and mass evacuations, followed by sniper fire targeting “high-value” individuals. Alvarez outlined the plan in an encrypted group chat, stating the goal was to make the attack “as deadly as we can get.”
The FBI disrupted the scheme after a tip from the mother of Tycen Proper, a 19-year-old Ohio resident and admitted co-conspirator. Concerned about her son’s firearm purchases, signs of online extremism, and talk of “jump-starting a revolution,” she contacted authorities on June 10.
Investigators traced communications across TikTok and encrypted apps like Signal, where the group discussed grievances involving government corruption, Jeffrey Epstein connections, and foreign policy.
Alvarez was arrested by the FBI in Omaha on the day of the event during a raid at a location possibly tied to a church. Four other suspects were taken into custody over the weekend in Ohio, Missouri, and California.
All five suspects now face federal charges, including conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to commit violence on White House grounds. The Justice Department announced the arrests on June 16, with FBI Director Kash Patel declaring the plot was “stopped cold.”
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has lodged a detainer for Alvarez’s removal from the United States following criminal proceedings.
This incident has reignited intense national debate over immigration enforcement and the DACA program. Alvarez’s case exposes serious vulnerabilities in temporary protections granted to individuals who entered or overstayed visas illegally.
Supporters of DACA maintain the program is designed for those brought to the country as children, DHS officials stressed that leadership in a domestic terror plot demands rigorous enforcement priorities.
Officials praised the effective interagency coordination between the FBI, local law enforcement, and DHS components in preventing what could have been a devastating attack on American soil during a major national celebration.
The UFC Freedom 250 proceeded without incident. Federal authorities continue investigating potential additional co-conspirators, while Alvarez and the other four suspects remain in federal custody pending further court proceedings. Alvarez faces deportation following completion of any criminal sentences.
