[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 23 (Wednesday, February 7, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H1307]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        AMNESTY FOR U.S. BORDER PATROL AGENTS RAMOS AND COMPEAN

  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, 3 weeks ago, two U.S. 
Border Patrol agents entered Federal prison. Agents Ramos and Compean 
never should have been sent to prison.
  These agents were convicted last spring for shooting a Mexican drug 
smuggler who brought 743 pounds of marijuana across our southern 
borders into Texas. Members of Congress and countless American citizens 
have repeatedly petitioned President Bush to pardon these agents. At 
the House Democratic Caucus last week, the President said, and I quote 
the President, ``We want our Border Patrol agents guarding the borders 
from criminals and drug dealers and terrorists.''
  Agents Ramos and Compean were protecting the American people from an 
illegal drug dealer. Mr. President, we are calling on you today, as you 
pledged you would last month, to take a sober look at this case.
  Many Members of Congress have warned that if these two border agents 
enter prison, their safety would be threatened by those who hate law 
enforcement officers. Madam Speaker, tragically this happened last 
Saturday evening to Agent Ramos who was beaten in prison by a group of 
Mexican nationals.
  Mr. President, the safety of these men is in jeopardy and time is 
running out. You alone have the authority to correct this injustice by 
pardoning these two men. Mr. President, please do not delay your review 
of the facts of this case.
  Madam Speaker, my colleagues and I will soon be sending a fifth 
letter to the President concerning these agents. We are asking the 
President to please expedite his consideration of a pardon for these 
two men and help these families realize that America is a country that 
believes in justice. Madam Speaker, I want to repeat that phrase very 
quickly: America is a country that believes in justice.
  Mr. President, please help these two Border agents. They deserve our 
praise, not to be in prison. Please, Mr. President, help them out now.

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