Federal investigators identified a man central to an alleged plot targeting U.S. officials and attendees at UFC Freedom 250 as having illegally remained in the country for over two decades without authorization, according to a Department of Homeland Security update released June 18, 2026. The suspected ringleader, Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez, entered the United States on a B-2 visitor visa that expired in December 2001 and never left.
DHS confirmed Alvarez was granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status in 2014 under the Obama administration despite his illegal presence. The Department of Homeland Security’s Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis stated Alvarez “should never have been allowed in the country” and emphasized he would face justice and be removed from U.S. soil.
Alvarez, who allegedly operated under the alias “Shepherd,” was arrested by federal authorities in Omaha, Nebraska on June 14. Prosecutors allege he orchestrated a plan involving explosive drones and snipers to target high-value officials during an evacuation at UFC Freedom 250. The Justice Department charged five individuals—Tycen Proper, Bryan Roa, Michael Thomas, Daniel Eskridge, and Alvarez—with conspiracy to commit murder. Authorities report Alvarez directed discussions about counter-snipers, maximizing drone lethality, and designating a safe-zone location at an old church in Nebraska.
The DHS update directly links Alvarez’s immigration status to the criminal case, revealing he was placed under DACA protection after overstaying his visa by more than two decades. ICE has now lodged a detainer for him. While all five defendants remain presumed innocent until proven guilty in court, the government highlights how this immigration record intersects with ongoing national debates over who qualifies for lawful residency in America.
