More than 200 migrants who broke open a fence and pushed past Texas border officials will not be facing charges in El Paso County, Texas. A judge dismissed their case on Wednesday, May 8.
Video captured by the New York Post showed the incident on March 21. Migrants were seen breaking through a metal fence with razor wire and pushing passed Texas officials at the border. Some National Guard troops were injured as migrants rushed them.
211 migrants faced rioting charges over the incident, but an El Paso County judge dismissed all of the charges. The judge said the case was not within his jurisdiction. Because of that technicality, he dropped the case.
The El Paso District Attorney Bill Hicks said he is going to appeal the judge’s decision.
“Our office feels very strongly that the procedure was appropriate and proper,” Hicks said in a press conference Thursday.
Hicks said the 211 migrants will be released to federal custody with Customs and Border Protection. From there, the migrants will be processed, where some may seek asylum and then get released into the U.S.
Hicks says some may be deported. Hicks said if his office wins the appeal and the charges can move forward, then they will issue arrest warrants for the hundreds involved.
