Judge Ruben Morales of El Paso County Court at Law #7 dismissed 211 cases involving migrants charged with rioting at a border crossing due to a procedural error in transferring the cases. The incident occurred on March 21 near Gate 36 in El Paso, where migrants breached concertina wire and fencing to surrender to Border Patrol. The migrants will now be released to ICE custody for processing for asylum or removal.
District Attorney Bill Hicks plans to appeal Morales’s ruling, with the intention of issuing arrest warrants for released migrants if the decision is reversed. Those facing more serious charges are still before the court, including seven in custody and two with arrest warrants issued. The individuals charged with felony rioting, criminal mischief, and assault public servant include migrants from Venezuela, Guatemala, and Ecuador.
It is notable that Randy Clark, a retired veteran of the United States Border Patrol, provides this information.
