Border Patrol Agents in Prison for Doing Their Job

Discussion about securing the border between the US and Mexico has been ongoing and often heated. Senator Nelson of Nebraska likes the idea of a fence of some sort either physical or electronic. Others propose more surveillance from the air; still others insist we hire more border patrols. This sounds sensible. Yet, we have a much larger problem.

February of 2005, two highly commended border patrol agents, Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean sought to do their job when they attempted to stop an illegal alien at the border. They ended up wounding Aldrete-Davila, a Mexican drug smuggler, who had not only illegally crossed into American territory but then assaulted one of the agents as the two agents tried to chase him down. What happened next defies logic and common sense. U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton filed charges against not the drug smuggler, but the agents.

Border Patrol Agent Ramos is now serving a severe 11-year and Compean a 12-year prison term for doing their job. Already Ramos has been assaulted in prison and lacked care for almost two days. This gross miscarriage of justice gave immunity to the smuggler and put two men in prison for doing what we claim we want done-protecting our border.

Grassfire.org reveals, "Under questioning by Rep. Culberson, a DHS (Department of Homeland Defense) investigator admitted that his department did NOT have evidence to back up a number of outrageous claims... In addition, the DHS admitted that it began its prosecution the border patrol agents before completing their investigation!"

WorldNetDaily.com reported that Andy Ramirez of the nonprofit group 'Friends of the Border Patrol' said of the conviction of the border patrol agents, "This is the greatest miscarriage of justice I have ever seen. This drug smuggler has fully contributed to the destruction of two brave agents and their families and has sent a very loud message to the other border patrol agents: If you confront a smuggler, this is what will happen to you."

DailyBulletin.com quotes the president of the National Border Patrol Council, the union representing border agents, TJ Bonner as saying, "They could be smuggling Osama bin Laden, drugs, illegal aliens, ...The administration is trying to intimidate front-line (border patrol) agents from doing their job. If they can't do it administratively, they'll do it with trumped-up criminal charges. ...the specter of improprieties in the prosecution of this case raises serious concerns..."

America's Most Wanted said, "Sanchez (a Border Patrol Agent) had to choose between his brothers in arms and a boyhood friend. According to court testimony, Sanchez tutored Aldrete-Davila on getting back at Ramos and Compean, helping him obtain counsel and working out the best immunity deal he could. ... According to the National Border Patrol Council, "three of the twelve jurors later submitted sworn affidavits alleging that they had been misled...

President Bush and his administration have done nothing for these agents. But we can. We can let the president and our representatives know what we think about this miscarriage of justice and encourage them to make this right with a full pardon. Write/email/call the White House and your representatives.