An El Paso judge released migrants charged with “riot participation” following a violent stampede at the southern border in Texas, as reported by the El Paso Times. The decision was made as the El Paso District Attorney’s Office was not prepared for detention hearings for each defendant. The release of these individuals came after a shocking riot along the Rio Grande that overwhelmed National Guard troops. Video footage captured guards being knocked over and razor wire being ripped down during the chaos.
The border crossers involved in the incident were mostly adult males who greatly outnumbered the guardsmen trying to manage the situation. They rushed towards a border gate in the hopes of being taken into Customs and Border Patrol custody. Some migrants faced charges such as assault of a public servant and criminal mischief, but it remains unclear if the judge’s ruling applied only to those charged with “riot participation.” Court officials mentioned that migrants would remain detained if there was a federal immigration hold preventing their release.
Assistant District Attorney Ashley M. Martinez requested hearings to be held at a later date, but this was denied by Judge Humberto Acosta during a virtual conference. It is uncertain how many migrants were charged with “riot participation,” but Acosta explained that “hundreds of arrestees” had the right to individual detention hearings within 48 hours. Immigration and Customs Enforcement were reportedly holding over 200 migrants that authorities wanted to arrest and charge, but federal officials were not as cooperative as the Border Patrol.
Texas has been using National Guard troops and state authorities to apprehend and deport migrants entering the country illegally, despite efforts by the Biden administration to prevent such actions. Last week, a federal appeals court blocked Texas from moving forward with these measures. In early March, the law briefly went into effect after a split US Supreme Court decision allowed it to progress while legal challenges were ongoing. Another hearing related to the recent incident is expected soon, and The Post is seeking comments from the district attorney’s office.
In the midst of the chaos at the southern border, details are still emerging about the circumstances that led to the stampede and the subsequent arrests of migrants involved in the violent incident. The situation underscores the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in managing the flow of migrants across the border, especially as the Biden administration’s policies clash with state-level efforts to address immigration issues. The decision to release migrants charged with “riot participation” has sparked debate and scrutiny, raising questions about the handling of such cases and the broader implications for border security and immigration enforcement.
