El Paso DA speaks about dismissal of charges against migrants allegedly involved in border riot

UPDATE: El Paso District Attorney Bill Hicks said his office would appeal what they called an "erroneous order" from El Paso County Judge Ruben Morales.

This is in reference to the 59 cases of migrants who were accused of participating in a riot at the border back in April.

During a news conference, DA Hicks said he would appeal because he claims that if Judge Morales believed he had no jurisdiction to rule on these cases, then he should not have jurisdiction to dismiss the cases.

Hicks said his office decided to appeal knowing that those who had been in jail for these charges would likely no longer be there anymore.

DA Hicks said Judge Morales dismissed the cases because of a clerical error in the clerks' offices. A process that he says his office had no control over.

ABC-7 reached out to Public Defender Kelli Childress for comment on the news conference held by DA Hicks. Public Defender Childress responded with a statement that said:

"Filing a misdemeanor case is not a difficult proposition. You have to wonder why they have steadfast refused to do it properly, which would have allowed the evidence - or lack of it - to be exposed to the public once and for all. 

At the end of the day, Mr. Hicks has acknowledged defeat and I’m satisfied with the outcome."

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- El Paso District Attorney Bill Hicks is speaking about the cases against migrants accused in the April border riot that were dropped yesterday. Hicks will address the media at 4 PM today. Watch the news conference live here.