[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 12369]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 BORDER PATROL AGENTS RAMOS AND COMPEAN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Sarbanes). 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, today is the 512th day 
since a great injustice took place in this country. On January 17, 
2007, two U.S. Border Patrol agents entered Federal prison to begin 
serving 11 and 12 years, respectively. Agents Compean and Ramos were 
convicted in March of 2006 for wounding a Mexican drug smuggler who 
brought 743 pounds of marijuana across our border into Texas.
  These agents never should have been prosecuted, yet the U.S. 
Attorney's Office prosecuted the agents and granted immunity to the 
drug smuggler. I want to repeat that, Mr. Speaker, yet, the U.S. 
Attorney's Office prosecuted the agents and granted immunity to the 
drug smuggler, who claimed he was unarmed. The illegal drug smuggler 
received full medical care in El Paso, Texas and was permitted to 
return to Mexico.
  Mr. Speaker, today I would especially like to thank House Judiciary 
Chairman John Conyers and his staff for their interest in investigating 
this case. Last week, I spoke to Chairman Conyers about this case, and 
I was so grateful to learn that the chairman is seriously considering 
holding hearings to thoroughly examine the prosecution of these two 
Border agents. The American people have not forgotten Agents Ramos and 
Compean, who should have been commended instead of indicted. The 
hundreds of thousands of Americans who have supported these two heroes 
will greatly appreciate a decision by Chairman Conyers to hold hearings 
on this injustice.
  These two agents have given years of their life in service to this 
Nation, yet they have been unjustly punished for doing their job to 
protect our homeland. Those of us--and there have been many on both 
sides of the political aisle--who have spoken out on behalf of these 
agents for more than a year are waiting on the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court 
of Appeals in New Orleans to render its decision in this case.
  When those who bravely defend our borders are prosecuted, it sends a 
confusing message to law enforcement, who are trying to protect the 
American people. Mr. Speaker, it is my hope and prayer that one day 
soon this injustice will be corrected and these two heroes will be home 
with their families.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to close by saying that we have called on the 
President of the United States to pardon these two agents, and yet 
nothing has happened. The last hope for this Congress is in the hands 
of Chairman Conyers. And I have great respect for Chairman Conyers, he 
is a man of integrity and honor.
  So with that, Mr. Speaker, I will ask God to continue to bless these 
two Border agents and their families. And I will also ask God to 
continue to bless our men and women in uniform, and ask God to continue 
to bless America.

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