DHS: ‘Alleged leader’ of UFC Freedom 250 terror scheme was an undocumented immigrant from Mexico

Suspect Identified in Failed UFC Freedom 250 Terror Plot

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has disclosed new information regarding a suspect linked to the thwarted terrorist plot associated with the UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House, revealing that the individual thought to be the “mastermind” is a Mexican national residing illegally in the U.S.

In a statement released on Wednesday, DHS referred to local reports which indicated that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had arrested Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez, accused of planning the attack on June 14.

Alvarez, who was staying in Omaha, Nebraska, had overstayed a B2 tourist visa that expired in December 2001. He received Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status under the Obama administration in 2014, which temporarily shielded him from deportation, according to DHS.

The 31-year-old, known by the name ‘Shepard,’ was among five suspects detained in connection with the incident. His alleged accomplices include individuals from various states: Theisen Proper from Ohio, Daniel Eskridge from Missouri, and Brian Omar and Michael Alan Thomas from California.

Authorities claim that the group intended to use a drone to detonate explosives near the UFC’s Claw on the South Lawn of the White House, which would likely create chaos, forcing celebrities—including President Donald Trump and his family—to flee south, where some members would act as snipers targeting the crowd.

DHS indicated that the group demonstrated a “clear intent to be as lethal as possible.”

“This undocumented immigrant from Mexico should never have been allowed in our country. He was the architect behind the attempted terrorist assault at the UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House,” stated Acting Assistant Secretary of State Lauren Biss. “Alvarez and his co-conspirators are now facing charges of conspiracy to commit murder and violence on White House grounds. He will face justice and be promptly removed from the country.”

In a related update, DHS tweeted about Alvarez, underscoring his role as the planner and organizer of the scheme, which led to his arrest on June 14 by the FBI, followed by a detainer filed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).