El Paso, Texas – On Easter Sunday, an El Paso judge ordered the release of illegal migrants charged with participating in a “border riot” that overwhelmed National Guard troops earlier in March.
Immediate Release on Own Recognizance
Judge Humberto Acosta released the migrants on their own recognizance, citing the El Paso District Attorney’s Office’s unpreparedness to proceed with individual detention hearings within 48 hours.
“So if the DA’s office is telling me that they are not ready to go, what we’re going to do is we’re going to release all these individuals on their own recognizance,” Acosta said.
Federal Holds and Other Charges
The order does not apply to migrants with federal immigration holds. The judge’s ruling also remains unclear if it pertains solely to the “riot participation” charge or to other related charges, such as assault and criminal mischief.
An additional hearing is scheduled for Monday for more defendants.
Border Stampede
The riot occurred on Thursday, March 21, when a group of over 300 migrants attempted to enter the U.S. illegally by rushing a border wall in El Paso. Video footage shows them ripping down razor wire and charging past National Guard members who were overwhelmed.
It is unknown how many migrants were charged with “riot participation,” but Acosta referred to “hundreds of arrestees.”
National Guard Response and Charges
Texas DPS officials have stated that the state still has authority to stop illegal crossings under trespass laws. Governor Greg Abbott has also directed the department to arrest any migrants involved in criminal trespass and destruction of property.
National Border Patrol agents are reportedly identifying those responsible for assaulting guardsmen and will process them for deportation, with the possibility of asylum claims.
Legal Challenges
The Biden administration has challenged Texas’ anti-illegal immigration law, which briefly allowed police to arrest illegal immigrants. The Supreme Court permitted the law to go into effect before it was blocked by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Arguments on its merits are ongoing.
Surge and Issues
The incident in El Paso highlights the ongoing surge at the border. Governor Abbott blamed President Biden’s policies for the chaos, while the Biden administration maintains that the Texas law interferes with federal oversight of immigration enforcement.
Additional Migrants Charged
On Easter Sunday morning, two other migrants, including a Colombian man, had separate hearings on criminal mischief charges for allegedly cutting border fencing. They were each held on a ,000 bond.
Data sourced from: foxnews.com
