[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 17, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H578]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NO JUSTICE FOR BORDER PATROL
(Mr. STEARNS asked and was given permission to address the House for
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, today Border Patrol Agents Ramos and Jose
Compean turned themselves in to begin serving their 11- and 12-year
prison terms. Now, what was their crime? Shooting a habitual drug
smuggler after he evaded law enforcement, attacked one of the agents
and threateningly turned to the agent with what appeared to be a gun,
and was fleeing back across the border.
Now, how is this justice, Mr. Speaker?
Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Kanof even went to Mexico to find this
drug dealer, brought him to America, paid for his medical treatment in
an El Paso hospital with taxpayers' dollars and gave him immunity to
testify against the agents.
The unreasonable sentence of these agents undermines the morale and
makes all of them question what they are doing, do they have the right
to draw their firearm in the course of their duty.
This is an outrage. I urge President Bush to review this draconian
prison sentence.
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