El Paso County Court at Law# 7 Judge Ruben Morales dismissed 211 specific cases involving workers accused of rioting at a border crossing as a loss to the trial of workers accused of a large boundary violation in March. Morales felt that he lacked authority and was compelled to dismiss the charges because of a legal problem in moving the cases from the nearby district judge to his state court.
According to a report by the El Paso Times, Judge Morales, a Democrat, issued his ruling during Wednesday’s court sessions, saying,” If I do n’t have jurisdiction, there’s nothing I can do on these cases except dismiss them”. The incidents occurred on March 21 near” Gate 36″ in El Paso, where hundreds of migrants stormed past Texas Army National Guard soldiers. As a large number of migrants crossed concertina wire and “no-climb” fencing in an effort to hand over to the Border Patrol, several soldiers suffered injuries.
Migrants rioting outside the border here in El Paso at this time, TX National Guard overrun them.
We were there and saw it all happen. Absolute chaos here. pic. twitter.com/VN6Kf663ie
— Jennie Taer ( @JennieSTaer ) March 21, 2024
Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) will take the migrants into custody and arrange their removal or asylum. Republican District Attorney Bill Hicks addressed reporters on Thursday at a press conference, telling them that his office plans to challenge Judge Morales ‘ decision. Kyle Lasley, the state’s assistant district attorney in the riot prosecution case against the migrants, opposes Morales ‘ dismissal of the cases.
Hicks told reporters at the press conference that if Morales ‘ ruling is overturned, arrest warrants will be issued for those who have been released into the US. Any of the alleged migrants who have been deported from the nation will face charges upon re-entry.
BREAKING: A riot just broke out here in El Paso
The border wall was rushed to Mexico after hundreds of migrants decided they had enough of the TX National Guard to bring them back.
Thankful to be here w/ @JamesBreeden pic. twitter.com/sY84y8QiYi
— Jennie Taer ( @JennieSTaer ) March 21, 2024
The case was not addressed by those migrants who were facing more serious charges in the incident. Seven migrants are currently being held in custody, and two others are still facing outstanding arrest warrants. Among the migrants facing more serious charges are:
- Junior Evaristo Benitez- Martinez, 21, of Venezuela ( rioting – felony,  , criminal mischief and assault public servant )
- Keider Jose Zurita Aponte, 21, of Venezuela ( rioting – felony,  , criminal mischief and assault public servant )
- Gregori Jose Guilarte- Acosta, 18, of Venezuela ( rioting – felony,  , criminal mischief , and assault public servant )
- Omar Alejandro Graterol Colmenares, 27, Venezuela ( rioting – felony, criminal mischief , and assault public servant )
- Joshua Fernando Garcia Juarez, 18, of Guatemala ( rioting – felony )
- Luis Jesus Chacon, 27, of Venezuela ( rioting – felony )
- Martin Elias Villasis Cedeno, 46, of Ecuador ( rioting – felony )
The two others are wanted for felony rioting, and warrants have been issued:
- Juan Jose Colorado Gutierrez, 34, of Venezuela ( warrant issued:  , rioting , – felony, criminal mischief, and assault public servant )
- Gabriel Enrique Angarita Carrasquero, 22, of Venezuela ( warrant issued:  , rioting , – felony, criminal mischief and assault public servant )
Randy Clark , is a 32- year veteran of the United States Border Patrol. Prior to his retirement, he served as the Division Chief for Law Enforcement Operations, directing operations for nine Border Patrol Stations within the Del Rio, Texas, Sector. Follow him on Twitter @RandyClarkBBTX.
