[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 117 (Tuesday, September 19, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H6709]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  SUPPORT OF U.S. BORDER PATROL AGENTS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, the men and women of the 
U.S. Border Patrol are often exposed to high-risk situations and 
dangerous environments while working on our southern border. Often 
working alone in remote areas and rugged landscapes, U.S. Border Patrol 
agents routinely encounter heavily armed human drug traffickers. 
Despite these dangerous conditions, the men and women of the U.S. 
Border Patrol work tirelessly to protect our Nation's borders, and they 
deserve the utmost praise for their dedication and bravery.
  Unfortunately, Madam Speaker, two U.S. Border Patrol agents who 
deserve our appreciation have instead become victims of a grave 
injustice. Agents Ramos and Compean were found guilty in a Federal 
court for wounding a drug smuggler who brought 743 pounds of marijuana 
across our southern borders into Texas. The agents now face up to 20 
years in Federal prison.
  Agent Ramos served the Border Patrol for 9 years and was a former 
nominee for Border Patrol Agent of the Year. Agent Compean had 5 years 
of experience as a Border Patrol agent. These agents never should have 
been prosecuted for their actions last year.
  By attempting to apprehend a Mexican drug smuggler, these agents were 
simply doing their job to protect the American people. These agents 
should have been commended for their actions. But instead, the U.S. 
Attorney's Office prosecuted the agents and granted full immunity to 
the drug smuggler. Granted full immunity to the drug smuggler for his 
testimony against our agents.
  The drug smuggler received full medical care in El Paso, Texas, was 
permitted to return to Mexico, and is now suing the Border Patrol for 
$5 million for violating his civil rights. I want to repeat that, Madam 
Speaker. The drug smuggler received full medical care in El Paso, 
Texas, was permitted to return to Mexico, and is now suing the Border 
Patrol for $5 million for violating his civil rights. He is not even an 
American citizen. He is a criminal.
  Madam Speaker, I have spoken to numerous people inside Texas and 
outside of Texas regarding this outrage, including the attorney for one 
of these agents. I have written to the President of the United States 
asking him to please look into this matter. I have written two letters 
to Attorney General Gonzales asking him to reopen this case for a 
fuller investigation before these men are sentenced in October.
  I hope that the American people will agree that this prosecution is 
an outrageous injustice and that the situation must be investigated.
  Madam Speaker, I am going to close in 1 second, but I will tell you I 
have had the opportunity to talk to these gentlemen, and I will tell 
you they are fine Hispanic Americans. They are citizens of this great 
Nation, and they love America. They, like their fellow Border Patrol 
agents, have a very difficult and tough job, and I hope that my 
colleagues on both sides of the aisle will ask the same question that I 
am asking: Why and how is it that these Border Patrol agents were doing 
their job to apprehend a drug smuggler, and yet they are the ones who 
have been prosecuted, and on October 18 they will be sentenced?
  I think this is an injustice, and we are asking for an investigation. 
I know that Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee has joined us in this 
effort. I hope that we will look into this because these men and women 
who serve us on the border deserve our protection. I thank those who 
serve. God bless America.

                          ____________________