Judge releases illegal immigrants charged in stampede; District Attorney wants decision overturned
Illegal immigrants who broke riot charges in Texas to appeal judge’s ruling
The El Paso district attorney announced plans to appeal a judge’s ruling that dismissed riot charges against hundreds of illegal immigrants who stormed past troops in Texas and made their way further into the U.S.
More than 200 illegal immigrants were arrested on state rioting charges in the March 21 incident where a group of mostly adult male migrants pushed through barbed wire set up along the border with Mexico.
The incident, captured on video, has sparked a heated debate between Texas and the Biden administration regarding how to address the ongoing border crisis.
A group of over 100 migrants attempted to enter the U.S. illegally by rushing a border wall on March 21, 2024. They knocked down Texas National Guardsmen before being stopped by the border wall.
However, a county court judge dismissed 211 cases at a hearing, citing improper procedures in transferring jurisdiction to his court. Judge Ruben Morales stated that his hands were tied on the matter.
At a press conference, District Attorney Bill Hicks disagreed with the ruling and confirmed the intention to appeal.
The Texas Department of Public Safety arrested 214 migrants and issued warrants for two others. The group comprised individuals from Venezuela, Guatemala, Ecuador, Colombia, Cuba, Nicaragua, Honduras, and El Salvador.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) emphasized enforcing consequences for illegal entry while ICE focused on deporting national security and public safety threats.
Venezuela has halted direct deportation flights of its nationals, and some Venezuelans deported to Mexico end up re-entering the U.S. as “gotaways.”
Hicks noted that some migrants have a criminal record, and while some have been released, others are still in custody awaiting processing by Border Patrol.
If the court of appeals overturns the judge’s order, new warrants for the migrants’ arrests will be issued.
The ongoing situation at the border continues to be a point of contention and debate, with authorities and immigration advocates at odds over how to manage the influx of migrants and enforce immigration laws.
As the legal battle unfolds, the fate of these immigrants and the broader implications for border security and immigration policy remain uncertain.
The appeal process will determine the next steps in this complex and contentious issue that has far-reaching consequences for both the immigrants involved and the communities and agencies tasked with managing the border.
