El Paso, Texas – On Easter Sunday, a judge in El Paso ordered the release of undocumented migrants accused of participating in a “border riot” earlier this month when a stampede overwhelmed National Guard troops along the Rio Grande. The judge made his ruling during an online teleconference bond hearing after the El Paso District Attorney’s Office was not prepared to proceed with detention hearings for each defendant.
The riot occurred on March 21, when a group of over 300 migrants attempted to enter the U.S. illegally by rushing a border fence in El Paso. Video footage showed adult males tearing away razor wire and charging past Texas National Guard members before being stopped by the border wall. The exact number of migrants booked on a charge of “riot participation” is unknown, but the judge mentioned “hundreds of arrestees” entitled to individual detention hearings within 48 hours.
During the bond hearing, Judge Humberto Acosta ruled that all participants in the riot would be released on their own recognizance. However, it is unclear if the ruling applies only to the “riot participation” charge and not to other charges related to assault and criminal mischief during the border stampede.
Texas has the authority to charge migrants who assaulted guards with crimes, including criminal trespass and destruction of property. The state also claimed the authority to stop illegal border crossings using trespass laws. The Biden administration has argued that Texas’ anti-illegal immigration law interferes with federal responsibility over immigration enforcement.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court briefly allowed Texas’ law to go into effect, but the law was later blocked by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals as arguments proceeded on its merits.
The release of the migrants involved in the border riot has generated controversy and criticism of President Biden’s immigration policies. Texas Governor Greg Abbott called the situation a result of “the unsustainable chaos President Biden has unleashed on the border.” He also stated that the Department of Public Safety is under instruction to arrest every illegal immigrant involved in the riot.
Further hearings for additional defendants are expected, with two migrants already jailed on criminal mischief charges for allegedly cutting border fencing. The situation continues to highlight the ongoing challenges and debates surrounding immigration and border security in the United States.
[Optional: Include any additional relevant information or insights that provide further context or analysis to the story.]