[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 133 (Wednesday, December 6, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H8870]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     URGING A PRESIDENTIAL PARDON FOR TWO 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 tonight 
to bring to the attention of the House a situation involving two U.S. 
Border Patrol agents. Agent Ramos and Compean were found guilty in a 
Federal court for wounding a Mexican drug smuggler who brought 743 
pounds of marijuana across our southern borders into Texas. These 
agents never should have been prosecuted for their actions last year, 
yet they have been sentenced to 11 and 12 years in Federal prison 
respectively. On January 17 of 2007, both agents will enter Federal 
prison unless action is taken to overturn their sentences.
  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 agent. By 
attempting to apprehend an illegal alien 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 these agents and granted full 
immunity to the drug smuggler for his testimony against our agents.

                              {time}  2045

  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. Ladies and gentlemen of the 
House, he is not an American citizen, he is a criminal.
  On October 26, an article by Sara Carter of the Los Angeles News 
Group, quotes two of the drug smuggler's family members who said, ``He 
has been smuggling drugs since he was 14 years of age and would not 
move drugs unless he had a gun on him, and he has been bragging about 
the money he is going to get in a lawsuit every time we talk to him.''
  While this habitual drug smuggler goes free, the families of the two 
El Paso Border Patrol agents have struggled to cope for almost 2 years 
with this unjust prosecution and conviction.
  On October 18, an article by Sara Carter, she describes the 
devastation that has fallen upon the Ramos family, stating, and I 
quote, ``They have almost lost their home on several occasions, they no 
longer have medical insurance, and most of the money raised for them 
will go to attorneys when they appeal the case.''
  I further quote, ``Threats from associates of . . . [the drug 
smuggler] have left the Ramoses fearful for their children's safety. 
The El Paso Sheriff's Department has had deputies monitoring the Ramos 
family since the threats came by e-mail and phone.''
  The article reports, ``Ramos first thought when the smuggler turned 
to him was of his wife and three young sons. He shot at the smuggler to 
save his life and his partner's, he said.'' Although it is clear that 
the agents fired shots to defend themselves and the border that they 
patrol, Ramos and Compean were convicted mainly on the testimony of a 
drug smuggler who claimed he was unarmed.
  A sealed indictment for the drug charges forbade the defense from 
calling into question the integrity of the drug smuggler as a witness. 
Despite my repeated requests for an investigation of this case, and a 
request from dozens of Members of Congress to pardon the agents, this 
administration has ignored the concerns of countless citizens who have 
decried the unjust prosecution of these two heroes.
  Members of Congress and the American people are outraged and 
concerned with this administration's indifference to the plight of 
these two honorable men who have been crucified unfairly by a Federal 
prosecutor. By using the power of his office to pardon these two 
agents, the President has the opportunity to immediately reverse a 
grave injustice. These two agents have given years of their life to 
service to this Nation, and have been unjustly punished for doing their 
job to protect our homeland.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, many in Congress and the people of America 
are asking the President to please consider our request and to pardon 
these two agents for protecting the American people from a known drug 
dealer. Please listen, Mr. President, we are asking you to please help.

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