Federal authorities say the alleged mastermind behind a foiled plot to carry out a deadly attack at a UFC event on the White House grounds is an illegal immigrant from Mexico who received deportation relief through the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, 31-year-old Abraham Alvarez entered the United States as a child and remained in the country after his B2 visa expired in 2001. Despite overstaying his visa, Alvarez was later granted relief from deportation under DACA, allowing him to remain in the United States.
Authorities allege that Alvarez played a central role in organizing and directing a planned attack targeting UFC Freedom 250, a combat sports event held Sunday on the White House South Lawn and attended by thousands of spectators, including President Donald Trump and other senior government officials.
Alvarez was arrested June 14 at an old church in the small Nebraska town of Western. Local outlet First Alert 6 reported that investigators believe the building was intended to serve as a “safe zone” for Alvarez and his alleged co-conspirators.
Federal officials say Alvarez was not acting alone. He is one of five individuals accused of participating in a scheme that allegedly involved the use of explosive-laden drones to attack the event. Investigators further allege that the plan included deploying snipers to target members of the crowd as attendees attempted to flee the chaos.
The alleged plot was disrupted before it could be carried out, following a coordinated effort by the FBI and local law enforcement agencies.
“From his home here in Nebraska, Alvarez allegedly directed and recruited others across the country to conduct a horrific attack against government officials in a mass casualty event,” FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel said in a statement released Tuesday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Kowel credited investigators for working rapidly to identify, locate, and arrest Alvarez while securing evidence related to the case.
Authorities say the alleged co-conspirators were arrested in multiple states, including Ohio, Missouri, and California. Investigators contend that Alvarez was responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the operation.
The case has also reignited debate over immigration enforcement and the long-term consequences of allowing individuals who entered the country illegally to remain under federal protection programs.
“This illegal alien from Mexico should never have been allowed in our country,” DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital.
Bis described Alvarez as “the ringleader of a failed terror attack targeting UFC Freedom 250 at the White House” and vowed that he would face prosecution.
“He will face justice and swiftly be removed from our country,” she said.
Federal investigators have not limited their inquiry to the five individuals already charged. Authorities are reportedly examining the activities of 23 people who are believed to have been connected to the alleged plot in some capacity.
If convicted, those arrested could face severe penalties. Prosecutors say conspiracy to commit murder carries a potential life sentence. In addition, defendants could face up to five more years in prison for allegedly planning an act of violence on White House grounds.
The allegations underscore the continuing threat posed by domestic terror plots and the importance of intelligence and law enforcement efforts in preventing attacks before they occur. At the same time, the case serves as a reminder of how quickly violent schemes can escalate and how high the stakes become when political grievances and mass-casualty tactics intersect.
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