[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 20]
[House]
[Page 27515]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      UNJUST PROSECUTION AND HARSH TREATMENT OF 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, today is day 274 of 
incarceration for 2 former U.S. Border Patrol agents. Agents Ramos and 
Compean were convicted in March of 2006 for shooting a Mexican drug 
smuggler who brought 743 pounds of marijuana across our border into 
Texas.
  Two decorated Border Patrol agents with exemplary records, who were 
doing their duty to protect the American people from an illegal 
American drug smuggler, are serving 11 and 12 years in prison.
  Since the agents' convictions, thousands of American citizens and 
dozens of Members of Congress have called for justice for these 2 
border agents. You just heard the Congressman from Texas (Mr. Poe) 
speak about this issue in a 1-minute speech. These 2 decorated agents 
were doing their duty to enforce the law and did not deserve to spend 1 
day in prison.
  While these 2 men appeal their convictions, they continue to languish 
in solitary confinement. Nine months of solitary confinement is 
unacceptable. The Bureau of Prisons has violated its own guidelines 
which state that administrative detention is intended to be used for 
``short periods not to exceed 90 days.''
  Although former law enforcement officers face increased safety risks 
in prison, the harmful effects of prolonged solitary confinement are 
well-documented. Solitary confinement is not an acceptable long-term 
solution for ensuring their physical safety.
  This week, I was pleased to join my friend, Congressman Rohrabacher, 
and many other of my friends, including Congressman Poe, in signing a 
letter to Mr. Michael Mukasey. This letter asked that, upon 
confirmation, the new Attorney General will thoroughly examine the 
flaws of this prosecution and will put an end to the harsh treatment 
these agents are receiving in prison. A directive from the Director of 
the Bureau of Prisons or the Attorney General can correct this unfair 
treatment.
  Madam Speaker, with an unbiased review by the incoming Attorney 
General, I am hopeful that this gross miscarriage of justice will be 
corrected.
  I say in closing, Madam Speaker, to the families of Mr. Ramos and Mr. 
Compean, please know that there are many of us in the United States 
Congress, the House and the Senate, that are trying to do what is right 
for your loved ones. This is an injustice that should not be allowed to 
continue. We need to bring justice to this injustice for these 2 men.
  May God continue to bless America and our men and women in uniform.

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