[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 119 (Thursday, September 21, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H6899]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               APPRECIATION FOR 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. Mr. Speaker, I am on the floor today to 
express appreciation for the more than 12,000 U.S. Border Patrol agents 
who perform an invaluable service to our Nation.
  Though support for the U.S. Border Patrol and other law enforcement 
officers often goes unspoken, the American people and Members of 
Congress owe our sincere appreciation for these courageous men and 
women for their dedication to keeping our Nation safe by protecting our 
borders.
  While protecting the United States from an influx of illegal 
immigration, drugs, counterfeit goods, and terrorists, U.S. Border 
Patrol agents face high-risk situations and dangerous environments 
while working on our borders. Often working alone in some of the most 
remote and dangerous areas of the country, these agents routinely 
encounter heavily armed human and 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, Mr. 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 border into Texas. These 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 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. He is not an American 
citizen. He is a criminal.
  Mr. 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 of this 
year. I hope that the American people will agree that this prosecution 
is an outrageous injustice and that the situation must be investigated.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I will close by asking my colleagues on both 
sides of the political aisle to please join us in this and find out why 
these two agents were prosecuted and will be sent to a Federal prison 
on October 19.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask God to please bless our men and women in uniform 
and their families.

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