Remember when a horde of illegal immigrants rioted at the southern border, clashing with National Guard troops in El Paso, Texas? They were arrested and charged shortly after the incident. It seemed as if at least some of these individuals would be facing some serious jail time.

But, it’s 2024, and nothing makes sense anymore.

A judge decided to grant these individuals a generous Easter president, ordering their release. Why? Because the district attorney’s office wasn’t ready to proceed with detention hearings for the defendants.

An El Paso magistrate judge on Easter Sunday ordered the release of migrants accused in a “border riot” when a stampede overwhelmed National Guard troops along the Rio Grande.

Court officials noted that undocumented migrants will stay jailed if there is a federal immigration hold blocking their release.

Presiding Magistrate Judge Humberto Acosta made his ruling on Sunday, March 31, during an online teleconference bond hearing where he accused the El Paso District Attorney’s Office of not being ready to proceed with detention hearings for each defendant. Another hearing for more defendants is expected Monday.

“It is the ruling of the court that all the rioting participation cases will be released on their own recognizance,” Acosta ordered.

The incident in question occurred on March 21, 2024, when a group of more than 300 illegal immigrants tried to rush a border fence to gain entry into the country. Dozens of these individuals ripped away razor wire that had been put in place to discourage those from trying to enter the country illegally.

This is the moment when TX National Guard became overrun by migrants rioting to get across the border here in El Paso today

We were there and saw it all happen. Absolute chaos here. pic.twitter.com/VN6Kf663ie

— Jennie Taer (@JennieSTaer) March 21, 2024

In the aftermath, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott noted that “the surge today in El Paso is the direct result of the unsustainable chaos President Biden has unleashed on the border.”

If people can literally physically assault members of the National Guard without so much as a slap on the wrist, why would other illegal immigrants not do the same? This is yet another occurrence that might encourage even more people to try crossing the southern border.

But there is another dimension to this story.

What do you think would happen if regular folks like us had brazenly clashed with members of the National Guard during a riot? We would be thrown in a cage faster than President Joe Biden could finish an ice cream cone.

The folks who rioted at the border and used violence against the National Guard are being treated better than Americans who strolled around inside the Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021. It reveals a harsh reality that we would be wise not to ignore: Some government officials are more willing to punish American citizens for crimes for which they would not charge foreigners.