by: Matthew Holloway 2024-07-02

EL PASO, TX - Forty-three illegal immigrants who were arrested in March 2023 during a full-scale riot at the El Paso, TX border crossing have reportedly been released into the U.S. by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

As reported by The New York Post, the brazen storming of the U.S. border fence was captured on video by its reporters when 211 illegal immigrants attempted to stream into the nation through the breach. In the melee that pitted four service members against a writhing mass of violent criminals, at least one illegal immigrant is seen stomping the knee of a serviceman.

During May proceedings, the outlet reported an El Paso judge dismissed all criminal charges against the group due to a technicality from a documentation error. Subsequently, the 43 illegal immigrants were released according to an ICE spokesman, this came in spite of the spokesman noting releases are on a "case-by-case basis."

“ERO [Enforcement and Removal Operations] officers make decisions on associated enforcement actions and apply prosecutorial discretion, where applicable, in a responsible manner, informed by their experience as law enforcement professionals and in a way that best protects the communities we serve.”

A source within The Department of Homeland Security reportedly told The Post that in fact the process is based on far more arbitrary considerations. Typically to free up room in detention centers or because they simply cannot be deported quickly enough.

“Sometimes we arrest a child molester and he gets released because of housing space. Or the charge is not egregious enough to keep him or her in custody,” the source told the outlet.

The Texas Tribune placed the total number involved in the human wave charge at 425, with 211 of them being arrested. El Paso District Attorney Bill Hicks stated that Department of Public Safety troopers sought charges against 300 of them, but only arrested 211. The majority of the illegal immigrants are facing misdemeanor riot charges according to Hicks.

“While I am not particularly concerned about immigration cases, I am concerned about violence and destruction of property,” Hicks told a press conference in March. He added that the suspects punched Texas National Guard members in the face, stomped them, and even attempted to take one Guard member's gun. “If we don’t send a message that they can’t do that, I’m concerned,” he told reporters.

Congressman Jim Jordan (R-OH), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, offered a rebuke of the release via X, writing, "Remember the group of illegal aliens that stormed the border in El Paso and attacked Texas National Guardsmen? Joe Biden's ICE released 43 of them into the country. Are they headed to your neighborhood?"

According to The Post Millennial, Texas law enforcement identified nine illegal immigrants as the suspected ringleaders of the riot and moved to prosecute them on felony charges. However, two of the subjects were turned loose by Border Patrol agents prior to charging.

Texas officials were able to arrest one of them, but the other is currently at large.

https://lawenforcementtoday.com/forty-three-illegal-immigrants-who-stormed-the-border-during-riot-near-el-paso-released-into-u-s