McALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A judge on Friday dismissed the charges against 11 people arrested during a major immigration raid after concluding the government had stretched the law to charge them with a crime that didn’t apply.
Agents with Homeland Security Investigations arrested more than 30 people last week, when they raided five ropa usada warehouses in McAllen.
Many people who allegedly worked in the warehouses had used tourist visas to enter the United States. Prosecutors charged them with fraud and misuse of visas, which is a federal felony.
During two hearings on Friday, however, a judge dismissed the charges against 11 people.
“The question was one of law,” said U.S. Magistrate Judge Juan F. Alanis, who announced his decision from the bench.
After listening to hours of t