EL PASO, Texas — Texas has arrested 214 migrants on state rioting charges after they breached the Texas National Guard barricades in El Paso on March 21.

What You Need To Know

  • The Texas Department of Public Safety announced the charges on Wednesday

  • Most of the migrants are facing misdemeanor charges, but nine of them are facing felony rioting charges, including assault of a public servant. Seven of those nine are in custody at the El Paso County Jail, while two of them are wanted and have warrants issued for their arrest

  • Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said after the breach that he instructed state law enforcement to arrest every migrant involved in the breach for “criminal trespass & destruction of property”

  • A reporter for the El Paso Times talked to some of the migrants involved in the breach, and the migrants said that state National Guard soldiers had forcefully pushed them back behind the razor wire barrier, which is in U.S. territory, and that led to skirmishes between the soldiers and migrants

The Texas Department of Public Safety announced the charges on Wednesday. 

Most of the migrants are facing misdemeanor charges, but nine of them are facing felony rioting charges, including assault of a public servant. Seven of those nine are in custody at the El Paso County Jail, while two of them are wanted and have warrants issued for their arrest. 

The migrants were in federal custody for illegally entering the country, but they were rebooked on state charges and will be held until U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) officers can take them. 

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said after the breach that he instructed state law enforcement to arrest every migrant involved in the breach for “criminal trespass & destruction of property.” 

A reporter for the El Paso Times talked to some of the migrants involved in the breach, and the migrants said that state National Guard soldiers had forcefully pushed them back behind the razor wire barrier, which is in U.S. territory, and that led to skirmishes between the soldiers and migrants. 

Here is the full list of migrants facing felony charges:

  • 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)
  • 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)

In the days after the breach, Abbott posted on X, formerly Twitter, saying 700 National Guard troops were deployed to El Paso "to boost border security operations" in the area.