79 illegal immigrants arrested on riot charges for storming El Paso border, assaulting Texas troops

An Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) official told the New York Post that the 70 illegal immigrants were arrested on misdemeanor riot charges.

The official also said that ICE is holding more than 200 illegal immigrants in connection to the incident but federal authorities "are not being as cooperative as Border Patrol," which means that charging them will comes as a challenge.

This comes after the state of Texas charged 9 illegal immigrants on Wednesday who were allegedly involved in the assault on troops defending the border in El Paso. They were charged with inciting a riot, damage of property of over $2,500, and assault on members of the Guard, per the outlet.

The rioting illegal immigrants destroyed state-installed border wire, bringing down troops as they rushed to Gate 36 in the hopes that Border Patrol officials waiting on the other side would apprehend them and grant them entry into the United States.

Soldiers stationed nearby were steering small groups of single adult migrants back into Mexico not long before the border stampede.

Shortly after, the rioters decided to rush the guardsmen.

Several of the rioters had knives and shanks seized by the authorities, a National Guard source told the NYP.

During the encounter, at least one illegal immigrant made an effort to take hold of a soldier's firearm.

A few of the soldiers stationed near Gate 36 that day were taken to a local hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

Since then, Texas has increased the number of National Guard troops and Department of Public Safety troopers stationed in El Paso and increased the amount of border wire in the region to discourage unauthorized crossings and encourage migrants to go to ports of entry.