Judge dismisses charges for 98 migrants who crossed into New Mexico military zone
Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Gregory Wormuth began filing dismissals late Wednesday into Thursday, reported Reuters, citing court documents. Wormuth ruled that migrants did not know they were entering the New Mexico military zone and therefore could not be charged.
A total of 98 people had the trespassing charges dropped, according to ABC News.
The migrants still face charges for crossing the border illegally, reported Reuters.
Dozens have received 'Title 50' charges for crossing into military defense property, a 170-square-mile strip along the base of New Mexico, also known as the Roosevelt Reservation, according to a news release by the United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico.
The corridor was recently transferred from the Department of the Interior to the Department of Defense and is now being treated as an extension of U.S. Army Garrison Fort Huachuca, the news release said.
The land is subject to military patrols and surveillance, with "U.S. troops authorized to temporarily detain and transfer individuals to federal law enforcement for prosecution."
According to Reuters, Wormuth pushed back against the trespassing charges and ordered New Mexico U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison, who filed the first trespassing charges, to show proof that migrants arrested in the New Mexico zone knew they had entered a restricted area.
Defense attorneys argued that warning signs in the area were inadequate to inform migrants they were committing a crime, a position Wormuth agreed with, Reuters reported.
A second military zone has also been created in the El Paso area, which will be part of the Fort Bliss Army base. The area stretches about 53 miles east to the border community of Fort Hancock.
Natassia Paloma may be reached at npaloma@gannett.com, @NatassiaPaloma on Twitter; natassia_paloma on Instagram, and Natassia Paloma Thompson on Facebook.
More: Amnesty International report finds disregard for human rights in El Paso ICE facility
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Charges dismissed for migrants who crossed into military zone
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'This Week' Transcript 7-13-25: White House NEC Director Kevin Hassett
A rush transcript of "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" airing on Sunday, July 13, 2025 on ABC News is below. This copy may not be in its final form, may be updated and may contain minor transcription errors. For previous show transcripts, visit the "This Week" transcript archive. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think he's done a terrible job. I think we should be -- UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: You're going to fire him? TRUMP: No. I think we should be three points lower interest rate. He's costing our country a lot of money. We should be number one and we're not, and that's because of Jerome Powell. (END VIDEO CLIP) KARL: That was President Trump this week criticizing the head of the Federal Reserve. Trump Economic Adviser Kevin Hassett joins me from the White House North Lawn. Thank you very much, Kevin, for being here. 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The bottom line is that he's seen some sketches of deals that had been negotiated with Howard Lutnick and the rest of the trade team, and the president thinks that the deals need to be better, and to basically put a line in the sand, he sent these letters out to folks. And we'll see how it works out. KARL: I mean, for all the talk of deals, I mean, there were talks of 90 deals in 90 days and then the president actually said 200 deals at one point. And we've really only seen really two and a half deals. We've seen the U.K., we've seen Vietnam, and kind of a framework on China. HASSETT: Right. KARL: So let me ask you, because what we're hearing from the Europeans and from the Mexicans is they were in the middle of these negotiations as this was, as this was going on, so is this a negotiating tactic, or are these tariffs real? 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And what I'm trying to get -- the message we're all trying to get across is this is about America getting itself ready for the golden age by getting our house in order, by getting our tariff and trade policy and tax policy exactly where it needs to be for a golden age. And normally, it's not necessarily about a specific country, but with Brazil, it is. Their actions have shocked the president at times, and he's made -- been clear about that. KARL: But I don't -- I don't understand how you're saying it's about America because the president has made it quite clear that what he's upset about is how the Brazilian Supreme Court has handled the criminal case involving former President Bolsonaro. I mean -- HASSETT: I'm agreeing with you. What I'm saying is that what I've been saying with most countries was that it's really about us getting the tariffs in order. And I think that this tariff for Brazil is a lot higher because of the president's frustration with Bolsonaro. KARL: But -- HASSETT: And the fact that Bolsonaro himself -- you know, anyway -- (CROSSTALK) KARL: But can you explain to me, because I find it confusing here, what -- on what authority does the president have to impose tariffs on a country because he doesn't like what that country's judicial system is handling a specific case? HASSETT: Well -- KARL: I mean, how -- how is that -- HASSETT: If he thinks it's a national defense emergency or if he thinks it's a national security threat, that he has the authority under IEEPA. KARL: So, how is it a national security threat that, you know, how Brazil is handling a criminal case against this former president? HASSETT: Well, that's not the only thing. That's not the only thing. I mean -- KARL: So, what is it? I mean, I've asked what it is. I mean, it seems that that's what President Trump's talking about. He's talking about his anger and his frustration. He's been quite candid about it with the Bolsonaro case. HASSETT: Right. 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