Ten people have been charged after what prosecutors have described as a "planned ambush" of immigration officials in Texas, where federal agents and police officers were lured to a detention centre and then shot at with assault rifles.

The assailants reportedly opened fire outside the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado last Friday, with one officer shot in the throat. This violent gun attack comes amid waves of protests and direct actions against President Trump's crackdown on illegal immigrants, which has seen ICE agents grabbing people from their homes, places of work, and courthouses in order to deport them.

The accused face three counts of attempted murder of federal agents and firearms offences after the attack. According to authorities, the attackers wore black military-style attire and began their assault by setting off fireworks as part of an "organized attack."

They proceeded to vandalise vehicles, spray-painting "traitor" and "ICE pig" on them, prompting correctional officers to alert the police. Upon arrival, one officer was shot in the neck by an individual concealed in the woods, while another suspect is said to have unleashed 20 to 30 rounds at unarmed correctional staff from across the street.

The suspects attempted to flee but were swiftly apprehended by other law enforcement officers. "Some defendants were wearing body armor, some were armed, and some had two-way radios," the US Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas said in a press release.

At the scene, AR-style rifles were recovered, along with flyers proclaiming "fight ice terror with class war!" and a flag bearing the message "resist facism – fight oligarchy."

The individuals charged have been named as: Cameron Arnold, Savannah Batten, Nathan Baumann, Zachary Evetts, Joy Gibson, Bradford Morris, Maricela Rueda, Seth Sikes, Elizabeth Soto and Ines Soto.

"Make no mistake, this was not a peaceful protest," declared Acting US Attorney Nancy Larson.

"This was an ambush on federal and local law enforcement officers. This increasing trend of violence against law enforcement will not be tolerated in the Northern District of Texas."

Josh Johnson, Acting ERO Dallas Field Office Director, characterised the incident as an act of "vigilante lawlessness.

"Violence, threats of violence, and attempts of vandalism at our ICE Facilities will not deter our officers at ICE from fulfilling their duties."