On Easter Sunday, an El Paso judge ordered the release of an illegal immigrant accused of taking part in a “border riot” when a crowd of National Guard soldiers overwhelmed them along the Rio Grande earlier this month, The El Paso Times reported. reported.
Court officials also said undocumented immigrants will remain incarcerated if federal immigration authorities block their release, the El Paso Times reported.
According to the report, Judge Humberto Acosta issued the ruling during an online videoconference bail hearing on Sunday, March 31, accusing the El Paso District Attorney’s Office of being unprepared to proceed with detention hearings for each defendant.
“It is the judgment of the court that all rioters will be released on their own recognizance,” Acosta ordered.
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On Thursday, March 21, 2024, a group of more than 100 immigrants storms the border wall trying to enter the United States illegally. In the process, the migrants mow down the Texas National Guard before being stopped by the border wall. (James Breeden, New York Post/Mega)
Another hearing for more defendants is scheduled for Monday.
The violence erupted on Thursday, March 21, in the southern border area of El Paso, Texas, when a group of more than 300 migrants attempted to breach the border fence and enter the United States illegally.
Video footage published by the New York Post shows dozens of adult men ripping off state-installed razor wire and charging past Texas National Guard troops. They then ran toward a section of the border wall from which no further access was possible.
It’s unclear how many illegal immigrants have been arrested on charges of “participating in a riot,” but the El Paso Times reported that Acosta said “several hundred arrestees” are entitled to individual detention hearings within 48 hours. It was reported that he said.
It was also unclear whether the judge’s ruling applied only to the charge of “participating in a riot” and not to assault or criminal mischief charges related to the border attack.
“So if the prosecutor’s office says they’re not ready to be released, what we’re going to do is release all of these individuals on their own recognizance,” Acosta said. he said at the hearing.
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On Thursday, March 21, 2024, a group of more than 100 immigrants storms the border wall trying to enter the United States illegally. In the process, the migrants mow down the Texas National Guard before being stopped by the border wall. (James Breeden, New York Post/Mega)
Brandon Judd, president of the National Border Patrol Council, previously told FOX News Digital that officials were reviewing video to determine who assaulted the officer. They will be subject to deportation proceedings, but will retain their ability to apply for asylum. Texas also has the power to prosecute immigrants who commit assaults.
Texas said it still has the power to use trespass laws to stop people from illegally encountering it. Gov. Abbott’s press secretary, Andrew Mahallis, previously told Fox News Digital that “El Paso’s population surge today (Thursday, March 21) is a direct result of the unsustainable chaos that President Biden has unleashed on the border region.” “The Texas Department of Military Affairs and the State of Texas.” These illegal immigrants are committing crimes in Texas, and the Department of Public Safety has been directed to arrest all involved on charges of trespassing and criminal damage to property. ”
The Supreme Court has temporarily allowed enforcement of a Texas anti-illegal immigration law that allows police to arrest illegal immigrants, despite a legal challenge from the Biden administration. The law was sent back to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, but the court blocked it again a few hours later as arguments proceeded on the merits.
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Migrants flood the border. (James Breeden, New York Post/Mega)
The Biden administration argues that the law obstructs the federal government’s responsibility for immigration enforcement.
“First, we are faced with such a dangerous situation. And second, Joe Biden, through his actions, is violating the laws of the United States of America,” Texas Governor Greg Abbott said. spoke after being attacked by a crowd.
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Late on Easter Sunday morning, the El Paso Times reported that two other immigrants, including a Colombian man, were tried separately on criminal mischief charges for allegedly cutting the border fence. They were jailed on $2,000 bail each.
Fox News’ Bill Melugin, Adam Shaw and Michael Lee contributed to this report.
