[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 6]
[House]
[Page 8909]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 END THE UNJUST IMPRISONMENT OF U.S. BORDER PATROL AGENTS COMPEAN AND 
                                 RAMOS

  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 482 of a 
terrible injustice in America. Two U.S. Border Patrol agents have been 
in Federal prison in solitary confinement since January 17 of 2007. 
Agents Compean and Ramos were convicted in March of 2006 for shooting 
an illegal alien drug smuggler from Mexico. The smuggler brought $1 
million worth of marijuana across our borders into Texas.
  The prosecution's star witness, the illegal alien drug smuggler, 
recently pled guilty to four felony counts for smuggling drugs while 
under immunity to testify against the border agents. Ramos and Compean 
were doing their job to protect America and to protect our border. Yet 
through a questionable prosecution, the agents were convicted and 
sentenced to 11 and 12 years in prison, respectively.
  Despite the efforts of the American people and Members of Congress in 
both parties, nothing has been done to reverse this injustice. Members 
of Congress and outside groups have filed court briefs to support these 
agents, and on December 3, 2007, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in 
New Orleans heard oral arguments for their appeals. The only glimmer of 
hope for these agents and their families rest with the Fifth Circuit 
Court's decision.
  The American people have not forgotten Ramos and Compean. The more 
time these men spend behind bars, the longer it takes for a decision on 
their appeal, the more frustrated the American people become, Madam 
Speaker, as millions of Americans eagerly await a ruling by the Fifth 
Circuit Court. My prayers are with the agents and their families. I 
hope that the judges' decision will rectify this gross miscarriage of 
justice and faith in our judicial system may be restored.
  I thank Congressman Rohrabacher for calling for a national day of 
prayer last Sunday on behalf of these two decorated U.S. Border Patrol 
agents. In addition to Mother's Day, this past Sunday marked the 
beginning of National Police Week. This week is a fitting time for the 
American people to join in prayer not only for agents Ramos and 
Compean, but for all men and women in uniform who risk their lives each 
day to protect our communities. Agents Ramos and Compean were willing 
to risk their lives to defend our border and protect America from 
illegal drug smugglers.
  Madam Speaker, before I close, again, we call on this White House to 
please listen to the pleas of the American people and the Congress to 
say let these men go for doing their job to protect the American people 
from a drug smuggler. I pray that justice will finally prevail for 
these men and their families.
  And with that, Madam Speaker, again, I call on this White House to 
listen to the American people.

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