Former U.S. Border Patrol agent Ignacio Ramos embraced his wife, Monica Ramos, on Tuesday, two days before he is set to be sentenced. Ramos could receive up to 15 years in prison for shooting a drug smuggler who was entering the United States illegally. (Mark Lambie / El Paso Times)
———————————–
After the injustice perpetrated upon Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, who in their right mind would even consider pursuing a career as a United States border agent? Additionally, are there any current border agents familiar with this incredibly tragic story who will not pause to reflect, as they spy illegals entering the U.S. from Mexico, what performing their job might net them–serious jail time? I wouldn’t blame them. I will blame our president.
But this is what George Bush, and all those who agree with him, wants–open borders and free access to cheap labor. Because he is a short-sighted and unintelligent man, he desperately wishes to devalue American schools, shut down our emergency rooms, and generally spread the 3rd world throughout this country–this country that is doomed to die from the inside out as if we’re one giant rotten apple. The old adage states that “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” It also wasn’t destroyed in a day. It died under the overwhelming weight of immigrants it simply wasn’t able to adequately accommodate. It became rotten.
Bush has expressed his desire to grant amnesty to the already 20 million illegal aliens currently residing in the United States. If we’re truly at 20 million (everyone agrees no lower than 12 million), then the number of illegal aliens residing in this country is far more than “all of the Germans, Italians, Irish, and Jews who ever came to American in the 400 years of our history on this continent.“* In the same vein, according to research conducted by Time magazine, “…the number of illegal aliens flooding into the U.S. this year will total 3 million–enough to fill 22,000 Boeing 737-700 aircraft, or 60 flights every day for a year.”
Pushing aside ideas of MEChA and Aztlan, if you’re one who doesn’t believe we are being invaded then you’re a moron. If you’re too worried that you might step out of the boundaries of political correctness and be labeled a “racist” then you’re a coward. Both ways, you’re simply ignorant, and this country will cave in upon itself from the weight of the ever growing illegal population.
This is not an issue of racism unless certain unsavory groups or peoples make it that way. I don’t blame poor Mexicans their desire, their need to break our immigration laws and try to make better lives for themselves in the United States. I blame our impotent administration for failing to secure our borders. While the analogy may not be all that flattering, equating America to the Roman Empire, at least in this respect, is not far off the target. And like all once mighty empires, the United States will fall, but not from wars. We will fall because our government refuses to address the issue that is slowly killing us–illegal immigration.
It all starts at the border. Go ahead, refuse to secure it. Neuter our border agents and send them to jail for doing the right thing, and that will be the beginning of the end. Am I overreacting? Ignacio “Nacho” Ramos and Jose Compean, good hardworking family men and former border patrol agents, will be sentenced this Thursday, October 19th, to no less than 10 years in a maximum security prison for doing their jobs. This is a travesty. It is a severe injustice. It fills me with shame that my government would allow this to happen. It fills me with a great sadness for these two men and their families who will be without husbands, fathers, and sons for potentially the rest of their lives. This must not be allowed.
Shame on George Bush. Shame on Michael Chertoff. Shame on Alberto Gonzales. Shame on Debra Kanof.
Former U.S. Border Patrol agent Ignacio Ramos hugged his mother, Virginia Orwig, at her home Tuesday. His lawyer is seeking a new trial for Ramos. (Mark Lambie / El Paso Times)
Congressman ask Justice Department to review law that convicted Ramos
In an eleventh-hour plea, a half-dozen congressmen are asking the Justice Department to review the federal law used to convict two Border Patrol agents of shooting a Mexican drug smuggler. Congressman Walter B. Jones, R-N.C., circulated a letter Thursday among his colleagues that slammed federal statute 924(c), which addresses discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. Conviction under the statute carries a minimum 10-year sentence in federal prison.
Jones and five other members of the caucus — including California Reps. Gary Miller (R-Brea), Dana Rohrbacher (R-Huntington Beach) and Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) — contend in the letter that El Paso, Texas, Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean should not have been charged under the statute because carrying a firearm was a necessary part of their jobs, and that they used the firearms while on duty.
“Yesterday (Tuesday), a motion to delay sentencing for Ramos and Compean was denied. Sentencing is now scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 19,” the letter reads. “We urge you to take any action you can to either delay this sentencing or have the … charges dropped.”
Border agent’s family waits, worries
Sentencing only a day away for convicted pair
EL PASO, Texas — Virginia Orwig stood in the kitchen, preparing homemade apple and cherry pies. With each turn of the crust, tears fell from her eyes. Cooking is her therapy.
She was baking for her son, Border Patrol Agent Ignacio “Nacho” Ramos, and his family. It might be more than 10 years, even as many as 20, before she bakes for him again, and before the family reunites.
Ramos and his co-worker, Jose Alonso Compean, are to be sentenced Thursday for the nonfatal shooting of a Mexican national, Osbaldo Aldrete-Davila, who allegedly was trying to smuggle nearly $1 million in marijuana into the United States on Feb. 17, 2005, when he was shot.
For more than 20 months, the families of the two El Paso Border Patrol agents have been struggling to cope with what they believe was an unjust prosecution and conviction. Both men have proclaimed their innocence.
Ramos’ family is numb. At Orwig’s home Tuesday, their faces were somber from worry and lack of sleep.
Orwig shuffled through stacks of letters she had written to local, state and federal leaders, pleading for her son’s life. Many yielded only canned responses. She also made more than 50 phone calls to her local congressman, Sylvester Reyes, R-El Paso, and never got a return call.
Photos of better times hang from the walls of the home, almost mocking the family with memories of times when life was simpler and sweeter.
Orwig smiled at pictures of Nacho when he was in elementary school. Then she shook her head in disbelief, and held her husband Wes — Ignacio’s stepfather — close.
Just then, Ramos’ three children came through the front door, their voices carrying from the downstairs to the upstairs kitchen.
“My biggest concern is for the children,” said Orwig of her grandsons — 6, 9 and 13 — as she continued to bake pies. The house was filling up with family.
“What is left of their childhood?” Orwig cried. “Can you imagine what my son must feel, knowing that he will not be around them to watch them grow up, to share their lives together?
“What has happened to us is more than an injustice. It is a nightmare.”
Just then, Ignacio Ramos walked through his mother’s front door. He walked up to the kitchen, saw his mother baking pies, and hugged her.
“It will be OK,” he said.
His wife, Monica Ramos, came in shortly after.
It was Tuesday. Only two days left before the sentencing. For everyone close to Ignacio, it was as though death was waiting around the corner.
The kitchen fell quiet.
‘WE’RE STILL HERE’
Ignacio Ramos relived the day when he went to help his co-worker, Compean, pursue a vehicle that had tripped Border Patrol sensors near the Rio Grande in Fabens, Texas, just 40 miles southwest of El Paso.
Ramos doesn’t second-guess himself about leaving his lunch behind to help Compean when the call came through on his radio. Ramos said he had no choice but to protect his partner and himself from Aldrete-Davila, who had what Ramos believed to be a weapon in his hand after ditching the van filled with marijuana.
During the ensuing foot pursuit, as the smuggler reached the Rio Grande, Ramos said Aldrete-Davila turned and pointed what Ramos believed to be a weapon at him. Ramos fired one shot. He hit Aldrete-Davila in the buttocks, but the smuggler made his way back into Mexico and fled in a van on the other side.
“No matter how hard this has been, no matter what anybody has said or thought, we are still here,” said Ramos, looking at his wife. “Nobody’s thoughts or ideas about that day have torn us apart as a family. Nobody will ever break us — we’re still here.”
Ramos remembers seeing Compean on the ground after a scuffle with the smuggler. He didn’t know if Compean was injured. Ramos’ first thought when the smuggler turned to him was of his wife and three young sons. He shot at the smuggler to save his life and his partner’s, he said.
What he couldn’t have known is how that day would change the rest of his life, and his family’s. And what he doesn’t understand is why the Texas U.S. Attorney’s office was so adamant about prosecuting him, and why the U.S. government went to such lengths to grant immunity to a drug smuggler to testify against him.
In the past few weeks, Ramos has not slept more than a few hours every night. The lack of sleep is evident on his face, where heavy lines are visible.
His heart is breaking, he said.
He can’t look at his children without feeling a flood of tears well in his eyes. His voice becomes choked.
“I know I’m going to have to talk to them soon,” he said. “The boys know what’s going on, but I don’t have it in my heart to look at them and tell them. I have to tell them that now they’ll only have each other.”
For Monica Ramos, the emptiness has been almost unbearable. Her love for her husband is evident in the way she looks into his eyes and touches his hand.
For months, they haven’t even had an hour alone, she said. The children have become so dependent on them that even staying at their grandparents’ for the night has ended. Their 9-year-old — whose name and the names of his brothers is being withheld to protect their identities — broke down in tears after football practice last week and asked his mother: “Are they really going to take Daddy away? I don’t want Daddy going to prison.”
“Our son is withdrawing,” Monica Ramos said. “He’s becoming very quiet. We try to stay as positive as we can around them. But they know that time is drawing near. Nobody can understand the pain we are feeling as a family.”
Monica now is the sole provider for her family. They have almost lost their home on several occasions, they no longer have medical insurance, and most of the money raised for them will go to attorneys when they appeal the case on Thursday.
Their families have helped keep them afloat. Joe and Ernestina Loya have taken loans against their home and stopped plans for retirement to provide for their daughter and grandchildren. Ramos’ mother quit her job at Raytheon Corp. to help her son with the children. Times have never been tighter for the families.
“This is almost worse than a family death,” said Ernestina Loya as she stood next to Orwig in the kitchen. “In death there is closure. This is more like torture, to take innocent men and condemn them for doing their jobs.”
Threats from associates of Aldrete-Davila have left the Ramoses fearful for their children’s safety. The El Paso Sheriff’s Department has had deputies monitoring the Ramos home since the threats came by e-mail and phone.
‘IT DOESN’T SEEM REAL’
The wind howled Tuesday afternoon, its force almost frightening, the feeling of winter hanging in the air.
Ramos can barely stand to think of the upcoming holidays. He’s already told his wife what he would like to give the children if they can manage to scrape up the money, he said.
“I didn’t want them to wake up Christmas morning without anything personal from me,” he said. “It doesn’t seem real. Everything feels like it’s slipping from my hands.”
His closest cousin, Peter Valdez of Austin, drove to El Paso this week to be with Ramos. Valdez said his biggest concern is for Ramos himself.
“I really feel that the government has made him a scapegoat for a dysfunctional system,” Valdez said. “They have ruined his life.
“But my concern is mainly for Nacho right now. … I fear for my cousin’s safety if he goes to prison. I fear for his safety even if he doesn’t go. He is dealing with very powerful criminal forces — and how will his life ever go back to being what it was?”
Ignacio and Monica understand this as well. They have already written their wills, fixed power of attorney papers and spent months transferring documents into Monica’s name.
And although what has happened to them doesn’t seem real, their love for each other is unquestionable.
In Orwig’s kitchen, they looked into each other’s eyes, not saying a word. Their eyes did not move. Each was transfixed, as though appreciating a special gift.
Then Ignacio, Monica’s hand in his, smiled.
“I was never willing to sign my life away for anything,” he said. “There is nothing they can do to tear this family apart. We have not given up, and we will never give up.
“My children and my wife will always know in their hearts that I did the right thing.”
Sentencing looms for agents, jurors say they were misled
Agents’ lawyer seeks new trial in shooting case
The men are scheduled to be sentenced Thursday and face a 10-year mandatory sentence.
It was not known Tuesday night whether U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone would consider the motion for a new trial before the sentencing. Officials of the U.S. attorney’s office said they had not reviewed the new motion and could not comment on it.The three jurors, identified in court documents as Robert Gourley, Claudia Torres and Edine Woods, said they voted not guilty almost to the end of two days of deliberations.
“I did not think the defendants were guilty of the assaults and civil rights violations,” Woods wrote in a sworn affidavit.Compean and Ramos were found guilty of assault with serious bodily injury, assault with a deadly weapon, discharge of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, a civil-rights charge and obstruction of justice in the Feb. 17, 2005, shooting of Osvaldo Aldrete Davila near Fabens.
Stillinger said she saw some jurors crying after the guilty verdict and later got in touch with them.
Gourley, a Northeast special- education teacher, and Torres said in affidavits that the foreman of the jury told them that Judge Cardone would not accept a hung jury. And Woods said an affidavit that she heard the same statement but could not remember which juror said it.
“Essentially … they conceded their votes, believing that they did not have the option to stick to their guns and prevent a unanimous verdict,” Stillinger wrote in the motion.
Gourley said that he thought the foreman was relating something he heard directly from the judge, and when he found no mention on hung juries in the court’s printed instructions, “I had no reason to doubt the foreman,” he said in the affidavit.
After the trial, Gourley told reporters that he felt pressured by other jurors who wanted to resume their normal lives after more than two weeks of trial. He also said he thought 10 years in prison was a grossly inappropriate punishment for the agents.
“Had we had the option of a hung jury, I truly believe the outcome may have been different,” he said in the affidavit.
Flores said in her affidavit that she believed the foreman because, “he was very experienced in serving on juries. I felt like he knew something about the judge that we did not know. É I did not think that Mr. Ramos or Mr. Compean was guilty of the assaults and civil rights violations.”
The third juror, Woods, wrote in an affidavit, “I don’t remember exactly what it was that made me change my vote to guilty on these charges, but I know I was very influenced by my belief, based on the other juror’s statement, that we could not have a hung jury. I think I might not have changed my vote to guilty if I had known that was an option.”
I went to school with Ignacio Ramos, who we all called Nacho. I have always known him to be a good guy, in a city that one can easily decide to go the other way. I am very saddened by this news and to see him and his family suffer. But it’s the border, and the traffickers of people and drugs have all the power.
Sure we see the arrests of the so-called smugglers on television. But what we don’t see enough of, is what we, that come from that area know, are the true criminals being held accountable. Those that hide their criminal activity behind titles, positions, and influence. So when their activity is threatened or exposed, the common man, mule, or in this case law abiding government employee, becomes the scapegoat. Someone sends a message.
So what’s the message they are sending with this witch trial? To those that have and continue to dedicate their lives defending, supporting, and trusting in their government, it has to be that we must always follow procedure without fail. To those that dedicate their lives to crime, it must be that whenever you get caught, just make sure you either have the right connections and/or simply know that our government will grant you immunity from anything, if you can help them with their agenda. But most importantly, to those that live a more relaxed existence, not having to defend their lives, family, or country on a daily basis.
The message is that their is no real war on drugs. It’s all made up. Because in a war, soldiers protect each other. The generals we praise in our history books, are legends. They were men that at times fought side by side with their men. They protected them with honor. They respected the sacrifice. So if there is a war on drugs, where is the general? Where is he during this fight? Since when does errors in procedure not only cost a soldier his career, reputation, and freedom, but also, have his own general grant the enemy immunity for helping to prosecute his own soldier?
This isn’t a war, it’s a business. A business that is so deeply stitched into our history, our culture, and our level of acceptance, that we can’t even imagine how to change it. Who is the guilty party? It’s so well organized and complicated that sometimes the guilty parties don’t even know they are guilty. They simply accept the benefits of the business. Why shouldn’t they, there is always a scapegoat.
What we do know are the victims. The users, dealers, transporters, government agents, the families of each, and even the traffickers. The ultimate pawns. One king sends it across and the other king counters with a badge. And at the end of each battle, the two shake hands and play again, leaving behind a trail of victims. And in this case, Nacho, Compean, and their families are the obvious victims. Regardless of failed procedure.
Stories involving border patrol agents being prosecuted and drug traffickers being the victim, usually include theft of drugs and money. So if these men are bad, and do not deserve to protect our border, then why did they not secure the van and keep the drugs? Why didn’t they just ask for some money to look the other way? If they would have, they would still have their jobs, still have their reputations intact, still have insurance for their families, still be able to afford their mortgages, and still be home with the family for Christmas. So what’s the real message being sent by the kings to the pawns?
Good luck Nacho and congrats. You just became immortal. Because we will not let this end without a fight. We will not forget your bravery. We will not forget your sacrifice. You have proven to be more man than most. I am honored to know you and hope to see and speak to you again soon. And to all of those brave men and women working our borders, you have a voice. Use it. Because, this battle must be won to protect you when you have to react to a potentially deadly situation. The confidence of support and trust in instinct must remain intact. After all, they didn’t issue you a gun because the other side plays fair and uses a policies and procedures manual. They issued you a gun so that you can make it home. It may take 10 years, but Nacho and Compean will make it home again.
Respectfully,
Lui…..
Proud ex-classmate of a hero
[…] Ignacios Ramos and Jose Compean are going to have to serve prison time if the President doesn’t give them pardons, and this will occur again if the system is changed concerning rules of engagement for those who are guarding our borders. […]
My prayers are with these two officers and their families. I have sent an email to all my family and friends with the telephone number, fax number and email address of the president and the White House telling them to demand a pardon and have the charges overturned for these two brave men. God help us if, as a nation, we allow this great injustice.
It just occurred to me that I should give everyone easy access to contact the President to demand pardons for Ignacious Ramos and Jose Compean and have them reinstated with back pay and all benefits.
email: comments@whitehouse.gov and/or fax the president at fax 202 456-2461and/or call the White House at 212 456-1414
All God’s blessings at Christmas as we celebrate the Birth of Christ.
I hope and pray for justice for the Ramos and Compean Families!!
We need to secure our borders and deal with illegal aliens.
My grandparents came to this country and went through the
LEGAL procedures to make a better life for themselves.
We must screen aliens for the benefit of all Americans.
This can only be done through legal channels.
Otherwise we will be faced with disease epidemics and the overburdening of our medical and other systems.
Please stop the illegal crossings! I am in favor of legal immigration.
The prosecution (actually persecution) of these two border guards shows the extent to which the present government of the USA is NOT commited to homeland security. It sends a message: to all border patrol guards, do your job and you will get in trouble, to every terrorist in the world who wishes us harm, welcome!
Justice for Ramos and Campion; exoneration not pardon, as a pardon implies guilt.
If you want peace fight for justice!
Another GROSS miscarriage of justice! President Bush should have already pardoned these border patrolmen! Instead of spending the appropriated millions for a fence, why not grow the fence with the kinds of cactus that snakes, spiders, and lizards love to nest in, with such an impenitrable root system that it will never die? It would be a great help to our border patrol. I am in favor of closing our borders – north and south – because we cannot continue wet nursing the rest of the world. We need to be focused on thinking first about what is best FOR AMERICANS.
It should be an act of treason for ANY company/corporation to shut down their factories in the U.S. and relocate them in another country. America MUST come first… providing jobs for our citizens makes us prosperous and keeps us strong. American corporations are weakening our country and making us vulnerable and dependent upon other countries. This is idiocy! I’m sick of seeing “China” on everything I pick up in the store. I’m sick of seeing some other country’s name on the stickers identifying the fruits I buy in the grocery store.
Printing ballots in multiple languages? Why? Only citizens are allowed to vote in our elections. To be a citizen you must first be able to speak, read, and write English fluently. Our nation’s language is English. We do not have to justify requiring our legislators to obey the law and uphold it. How did those states which have printed ballots in other languages in addition to English get past their own legislators? Don’t they know the basics of the Constitution they are expected to uphold – NOT tear apart and tear down?
I believe it’s time that we the American citizens have another TEA PARTY,only this time we strike Uncle Sams pocketbook,Until EL Presidente Jorge W. Bush remembers who put him in office.It sure as hell was not the Illegal Aliens or Mexican Drug smugglers,FREE Ramos and Compean.These men are Our National Heros.
It’s about more than cheap Labor. I’t about third-worldizing (to coin a word) the U.S. by allowing an uneducated, malleable influx of people into the country who will be given amnesty and fast-laned to citizenship so they can vote for the globalist candidates that are spoon fed to the voters.
We’ve seen how the vote can be manipualted by the court.
We’ve seen the supreme court allow eminent domain to steal private property for the benefit of private developers.
We’ve seen the court overturn referendums.
I agree we need another Tea Party, or maybe even something more Jeffersonian, if you get my drift.
The government IS NOT our friend.
This is the worst miscarriage of justice I have heard of in many, many years.
I would like to see all Border Patrol agents go on a sympathy strike for 24 hours. This is horrible way to treat two fine men. May God have mercy on this country which is going to hell in a handbasket. Thank God I am 77 years old and won’t have to witness many more such examples of injustice.
I just can’t believe that this is happening to these two men who have worked so hard to protect their country. Who is the homeland security agent who found Osbaldo Aldrete-Davila and brought him here to prosecute our border patrol agents? This person needs to be found and brought out into the open today! Also, Debra Kanof and the judge in this case need to understand that the outcry of injustice extends far beyond the borders of Texas. This is completely unacceptable. How is it that we cannot pursue a person who is trying to bring drugs into our country? This effectively renders our border patrol impotent. This needs to be rectified now.
This case makes me sick, these two men should not spend a second in jail. Are there any protests being organized? I live in DC and would love to participate if so.
The details of this injustice are beyond stupid. There is something rotten going on here and I believe it goes beyond the Homeland Security officer who went to Mexico to find Osbaldo Aldrete-Davila. I would like to know who sent him there! Who is REALLY behind this? Who is trying to intimidate our Border Patrol? I am not a Conspiracy Theorist but in this case, I have to say this whole thing is too asinine NOT to be something that reaches farther than it appears on the surface. We need to put pressure on Washington, on our Congressmen, our Senators. Where is the FBI and the DEA? Wake up guys! Someone has to take a serious look at what is going on here.
They shot an unarmed suspect (who they didn’t know was an illegal) in the back.
They tried to cover it up by picking up shell casings
They abandoned the shot man in the wilderness
They filed a false report about it.
Doing their jobs? Doesn’t sound like it.
Ahhhh, but NoneofYourDamned Business,
It’s looking more and more like the two former agents have been done more of an injustice than was originally believed.
Check this out here… https://hecubus.wordpress.com/2007/01/26/ramos-compean-convicted-under-wrong-law-to-johnny-sutton-well-duh/
and this…
http://www.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_5108915
I will say after all will be said and done, Johnny Sutton will be brought up on malicious prosecution charges and maybe even disbanded (it’s good that you bought into what he’s selling so hard in interviews right now. Good job.) And all those who, like you, have bought into what he’s selling will be eating crow. Or you simply won’t care, which is too bad since it is obvious to those who aren’t heartless that Ramos and Compean were plainly railroaded.
Looks like the President won’t be pardoning any criminals soon…
White House spokesman Tony Snow last week would not comment specifically on pardon proceedings, but he said the facts presented in court showed that Ramos and Compean tried to cover up what occurred.
U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton issued a statement in response to allegations the agents were prosecuted for “just doing their job,” saying “nothing could be further from the truth.”
“These agents shot someone who they knew to be unarmed and running away,” Sutton said. “They destroyed evidence, covered up a crime scene and then filed false reports about what happened. It is shocking that there are people who believe it is OK for agents to shoot an unarmed suspect who is running away.”
AnAmerican Thatreads (or NoneofYourDamnedBusiness),
Re-read the post above (15.)
If the President of the United States won’t even consider a pardon, why should I care about them?
MYTH VS. REALITY–THE FACTS OF WHY THE GOVERNMENT PROSECUTED
AGENTS COMPEAN AND RAMOS
Myth: THE AGENTS WERE JUST DOING THEIR JOBS
Reality: Securing our nation’s borders can be a tough and dangerous job. Often, Border Patrol
agents find themselves in difficult and dangerous situations. We give them guns and allow them
to defend themselves. Border Patrol training allows for the use of deadly force when an agent
reasonably fears imminent bodily injury or death. An agent is not permitted to shoot an unarmed
suspect who is running away.
There was no credible evidence that the agents were in a life-threatening situation or that
Aldrete, the Mexican alien, had a weapon that would justify the use of deadly force. In fact,
Border Patrol Agent Juarez, who was at the scene, testified at trial that he did not draw his pistol
because he did not believe there was a threat. He also testified that Aldrete did not have a
weapon and was almost to Mexico when Agent Compean began firing at him.
In America, law enforcement officers do not get to shoot unarmed suspects who are running
away, lie about it to their supervisors and file official reports that are false. That is a crime and
prosecutors cannot look the other way…
[edited for length]
Again, much of what you copy and pasted here is from Sutton without a transcript–he’s been babbling this stuff in every interview as if he were simply reading from the page.
Apparently, much of this is contradicted in transcripts and documents that Sutton, and the DHS are stalling to release. Several Congressman have requested these documents–documents that should be legally available as public records–but to no avail. Sutton and the DHS are hiding the documents for a reason, and the reason will likely prove even further the innocence of Ramos and Compean.
Do us a both a favor. I’ve said it to others and I’ll say it to you. Go start your own blog and post your views there. No one here is likely reading your inane comments, and they likely don’t care. When you say something as basely ignorant as “If the President of the United States won’t even consider a pardon, why should I care about them?” then you are not welcome here.
I’ve edited your last post because it was too long.
I am deeply saddened by this case and I keep both these men in my prayers and I hope they will be freed. I am a third generation Mexican American and I am pro-legal immigration. It angers me to see how these illegal immigrants come into our country and take benefits that they are not entitled to while others who go through the legal channels like my great-grandparents and they have to struggle. The Mexican Government needs to clean up their country and their economy so their citizens will want to stay in Mexico. I fear the day when we will not have a Boarder Patrol because of this situation.
I am furious! How dare George Bush sit and do nothing when he can issue an executive order, or pardon. He doesn’t need to research this. He needs to grant a pardon. According to my research these gentlemen committed a procedural violation. Why are they in prison? Child molestors get less time for hurting our own children. They go after an illegal alien who refused to stop when ordered to in English AND Spanish and they shoot. Now this guy is suing for FIVE MILLION DOLLARS after an attempt to bring pot in this country. The illegal refused to comply with officers of the law, he ran upon being stopped, they asked him to stop in English and Spanish, they RUN after him and repeatedly ask he stop. They shoot him because he wouldn’t stop and they are in prison. This is abuse! This is borderline tyranny toward these officers. These guys have wives, children and have given their adult lives to OUR COUNTRY and OUR SAFETY in the worst job of all: Border Patrol. And how are they awarded for a procedural violation: less time than most serious violent haneous criminals get. And George Bush won’t issue pardon.
Write to the Whitehouse and every rep and senator in your area. This is gross injustice. Stand up people this is truly wrong!
Dear noneofyourdamnedbusiness,
They should be permitted to shoot because he wouldn’t stop. Otherwise all the illegals could simply make a run for it knowing there is no deadly force involved. What would be the incentive to not cross the border!
Impeach Johnny Sutton, Now!
Loretta,
Thanks for coming to and reading the site.
The agent, Jose Compean, shot at the illegal alien drug smuggler because he thought he had a gun and was going to use it. I don’t agree that they should shoot fleeing suspects just because they’re running away, and I suspect most border agents would agree with me.
RICHARD J. VATTUONE
ATTORNEY AT LAW
7817 HERSCHEL AVENUE, SUITE 200
LA JOLLA, CALIFORNIA 92037
TELEPHONE: (858) 824-6602
FACSIMILE: (858) 777-5770
February 9, 2007
Johnny Sutton
United States Attorney
Western District of Texas
601 N.W. Loop 410, Suite 600
San Antonio, Texas 78216
Re: Prosecutorial Abuse
Dear Mr. Sutton:
I have been following the cases of Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean, and Sheriff Guillermo Hernandez. I do not practice in the area of criminal law, but I know a great deal about the field. I have a background in both the military and law enforcement.
One of my venerable old law professors, Kenneth Culp Davis, advised his students that one of the greatest areas for abuse in the legal system is prosecutorial discretion. In my opinion, your prosecution of these officers for doing their job, in the face of impossible odds is, disgraceful.
I saw your attempt to defend yourself on Fox News and, frankly, I was unimpressed. To track down a drug dealer and grant him immunity to testify against law enforcement officers is beyond shameful. So what if the officers violated a few administrative rules?! Most law enforcement and military officers know that, thanks to bureaucrats like you, the law cannot be effectively enforced without violating some or another bureaucratic rule.
These officers could have been given administrative discipline or civil penalties, but you grossly abused your prosecutorial discretion by brining the full weight of the government and criminal system down on these poor souls, while siding with and aiding the criminals involved. It seems the legal system has been turned on its head! One must question the motivation for such prosecutorial misconduct. I believe you and your office should be investigated.
I am asking President Bush to pardon these good officers and remove you from office, immediately. Should you, ever, come up for judicial nomination, I, along with my friends in the legal profession, will strongly oppose your nomination.
Sincerely yours,
Richard J. Vattuone
RJV:nk
cc: President George W. Bush
Richard,
Excellent and eloquent letter to Sutton and Bush! Thank you for posting it here. My hope is that Sutton will be not only removed from office, but brought up on criminal charges as well.
Again, thanks for posting this here.
Richard,
Very well written letter to Sutton and Bush. It seems as if new developments are surfacing on a daily, if not hourly basis in this matter.
We have now heard (from the few in the media that cared to follow this story) of yet another example of abuse of power; Inspector General Skinner’s blatant lying to Congressman months ago about the evidence he possessed, supposedly illustrating the Defendants’ racism and other defects of character. This week, he admitted his own malfeasance when he was “called on the carpet” under oath in front of those same Congressmen (and others)after months of failing to produce the asked for evidence. However, even his admission was misleading, for he spoke of himself in the third person. When asked where the evidence was, Skinner replied that the person who told them (the Congressmen) that the evidence existed had misinformed them. Amazingly, “the person” that misinformed them was Skinner himself! Of course, this brought down the righteous anger of those Congressmen who had asked for, and partially relied upon, that evidence. I hope that hearing is shown on CSPAN!
My guess as to what the reason might be for such a twisted statement was “sound bite” utility. Such language robs the media of a phrase or “bite” that can later be played over and over again. Instead, the phrase adds a mandatory second layer of understanding, which if omitted from any subsequent report, story or account (intentionally or not), leaves the listener with the completely wrong impression of what he said!
One more tidbit to chew on. I heard on the radio news that Johnny Sutton, the Prosecutor in that case, is good friends with our President, George W. Bush.
I’m one of those Republicans that has supported the President for many years. But now, even I am upset beyond mere disagreement, and much more than dissillusioned. I’ve lost much of my faith in our President and his group, and am struggling to even appreciate his perspective. I’m not a conspiracy theorist, however I do believe that people and agencies have agendas, and some of them are hidden. But with all of the twists and turns of this case, I just cannot figure out what the agenda is here.
Anyone?
Jonathan
As more and more details begin to unfold, we learn that Jose Compeon and Nacho Ramos did not file false reports because they did not file any reports. Compeon verbally told his senior supervisor what happened and this supervisor and another, and seven other agents who were informed CHOSE not to file a report. Agent Compeon did his job–a verbal report is in compliance with US Border Patrol procedure. We also know Mr. Skinner lied. Additionally, Johnny Sutton lied when he told the news media that Aldrete-Davila was located by a Mexican attorney, when in fact, it was a Wilcox, AZ agent whose family were friends with Aldrete Davila’s family in Mexico, and that agent got permission to make contact and offer A-D immunity.
Apparently that immunity allowed Aldrete-Davila further immunity when he was again caught bringing a second load of narcotics into the country. Of course we should believe the testimony of this fine, upstanding Mexican citizen over the word of federal agents, one of whom was up for sector agent of the year.
Mother of a Border Patrol agent.
Anyone who thinks these two guys were not set up by the Bush Administration does not know the facts. Not John Sutton tissue of lies based on the testimony of an armed Drug smuggler (given ammunity), Border patrol agents who were fired or resigned because they lied, of the shout that ramos and Campion didn’t file a report. They were not allowed to file a report it is against policy they did not do an oral report to their supervisor as he was there at the time and was witness. I believe this prosicution is more an overture to the Mexican drug cartels who have a strangle hold on the Mexican Government and are in the way of Bush’s open border policies. I hope the Vice President is impeached over the Valarie Plain Scooter Libby case and our brain dead President gets painful cancer and dies. Probably won’t happen but we can dream.
I write my congressmen, the whitehouse , anyone who will listen about this travesty of justice. These two men need to be released today pending a new trial where they can be acquitted. I fear they will be murdered in prison to make this case of bribery, lies, threats and deception diappear.
My prayers are with these Hero’s, May God bless them and their families and keep them safe while this unjustice is corrected.
WHAT’S NOT TO UNDERSTAND? WE ARE BEING SOLD OUT BY OUR OWN GOVERNMENT.CORRUPT POLITICIANS ON BOTH SIDES HAVE BECOME NOTHING MORE THAN LAP DOGS TO BIG BUSINESS. ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS FOLLOW THE MONEY TRAIL FROM THE UNITED STATES INTO THE PATHETIC COUNTRY OF MEXICO TO UNDERSTAND WHY TWO OF OUR BRAVE BORDER PATROL AGENTS HAVE GOTTEN THE SHAFT FROM THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT.PEOPLE SEEM TO WANT TO MAKE THIS CASE A LOT MORE COMPLICATED THAN IT REALLY IS.ANYTHING MEXICO WANTS,MEXICO GETS. I,FOR ONE, AM SICK AND TIRED OF BEING TOTALLY IGNORED BY MY OWN GOVERNMENT,AND YOU SHOULD BE ALSO.I HAVE WRITTEN SOME VERY NASTY LETTERS TO THE WHITEHOUSE CONCERNING OFFICERS COMPEAN AND RAMOS,ONLY TO RECEIVE THE SAME OLD REPLY THANKING ME FOR TAKING THE TIME TO WRITE. DID THEY NOT UNDERSTAND THAT I WAS NOT BEING NICE? OF COURSE THEY DIDN’T BECAUSE THEY NEVER READ THE STINKING LETTER!JUST LIKE THEY NEVER READ YOURS, MY FRIENDS.I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU ,BUT I AM FED UP WITH THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA”S STRINGS BEING PULLED BY A PISSANT THIRD WORLD COUNTRY LIKE MEXICO.WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO START BEING A LOT MORE PRO-ACTIVE LIKE THE ILLEGAL ALIENS IN OUR COUNTRY ARE IN ORDER TO GET THE ATTENTION OF ALL THESE SORRY ASS POLITICIANS WE’VE PUT IN OFFICE. IF WE JUST KEEP SITTING BACK ON OUR THUMBS AND DO NOTHING THEN WE DESERVE WHAT WE ARE GETTING NOW,”NOTHING”
My prayers are with the families of officer Ramos and officer Compean’s family. 10-15 years in prison was not a wise sentence for the border patrol officers. It is too severe and unnecessarily long for officers who protect our border. They may have broken some rules, but there could have been sentenced to something lighter than those 10-15 years, or removing them from the field job and placing them to desk-jobs, or something like that. Immunity to the drug smuggler? Ridiculous. I believe he has more rights than an American citizen here in the USA. First of all, he came to the USA ILLEGALLY. If an American smuggler was crossing over to Mexico and they shot him, I’m sure the smuggler would be put in jail, and the officers would be praised. A thing like this would have not happened at all if there was stricter border enforcement and the drug smuggler was not able to be here in the first place. I won’t blame president Bush nor the current administration for this whole immigration mess, although they could have done something already. This problem has been here for decades, and someone has to fix it-either the Bush administration or whoever is coming in 2008. The number of illegal immigrants is just rising, and by the time someone wants to fix this mess, it might be too late.
I want these two men to know that I am fighting for them as hard as I can… The reason that they are in jail is because of illegal drugs, George W Bush, and of course the Federal Justice Department screw ups….. I will do my best to get these men set free and soon….
I love you guys for your amazing skills in your jobs, and for doing the right thing…
Wayne Wheeler….
Whoa..everyone here needs to chill out. First, shooting someone in the back is not a “heroic” action. I don’t know who taught you right from wrong, but you need to do some serious soul searching if you thing this is alright. It is also a ridiculous statement to say that immigrants are “rotting” this country. If immigrants did not “rot” America for the first 300 years, how are they doing it now? You are most likely descended from immigrants, so thank you for your contribution. Those who support immigration are not morons, they are just less self-serving and less short-sighted than others. You tell the multitudes of immigrants that you support policies that allow them to be murdered by border patrol, and that you do not appreciate the labor they do daily to bring you all of the luxuries you enjoy. Look into the eyes of an immigrant, and you will see that they are HUMAN like you. Whether you like it or not, Mexican-American people are a vital part of this country, both economically and culturally. Being realistic and accepting this is the best way to begin to move forward and fix a broken system, not supporting racist ideas that get us nowhere.
HEY ANONYMOUS,IN THE FIRST PLACE THE IMMIGRANTS YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT AREN’T IMMIGRANTS AT ALL,THEY ARE ILLEGAL ALIENS.DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE? I COULD CARE LESS ABOUT THE LABOR THEY DO TO BRING ME ALL THE LUXURIES I ENJOY.(WHAT A PANTLOAD) BUT I DO CARE ABOUT THE CRIME,THE GANGS,THE DRUGS,AND THE DISEASES THAT THE ILLEGALS HAVE BROUGHT INTO OUR COUNTRY,OR DO YOU THINK THAT’S A FAIRYTALE TOO?NO ONE I KNOW IS OPPOSED TO LEGAL IMMIGRATION. I HAVE MEXICAN FRIENDS WHO ARE HERE LEGALLY AND THEY CAN’T STAND WHAT THE ILLEGALS ARE DOING TO OUR COUNTRY.BY THE WAY,YOUR FRIEND THE DRUG SMUGGLER WAS NOT SHOT IN THE BACK HE WAS SHOT IN THE ASS. TOO BAD THE SOB WASN’T SHOT IN THE HEAD YOU DAMN WHINEY ASS LIBERAL.NEXT TIME YOU WANT TO RUN OFF AT THE MOUTH,KNOW WHAT IN THE HELL YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT.
I know what I am talking about. You can’t shoot a man in the ass when you are facing him. You have to shoot him in the back to do that. And you wishing that someone had been murdered is truly a disgusting idea. What diseases do Mexicans bring? I am Mexican, and I don’t believe I have any diseases that are foreign to this country. I don’t believe that I have ever brought any foreign diseases back to the U.S. from my travels. You need to get the facts straight. The crime, gangs, and drugs would be here whether these people came or not. Crime was an issue long before immigration. As for drugs, we blame immigrants because it is much easier to blame someone who is “different” than to look at your own friends and family and blame them. Do you honestly believe that drugs couldn’t be manufactured here? Did immigrants bring the meth labs that dominate rural areas and corrupt all people? And please don’t get indignant and act like you don’t reap the benefits of undocumented workers. You like your oranges cheap. All of your products that are “Made in America” have most likely gone through the hands of undocumented workers at some point. Deep down you know that these people are benefitting you. Before you wish for someone to die and call those who defend him a “whiney ass liberal,” look at it from another point of view. Try to see outside of the box. I doubt you have ever been in a position like that man, and I doubt you ever would. Being an American citizen, you can enjoy the fact that your child will grow up with so many privileges and opportunites. My father came to this country trying to give me the same, and I will be forever grateful to him. He is one of the most courageous people I know. Look deep inside yourself before you try to deny someone else the rights that you are so proud of. If you can deny that to these people and still sleep at night, then you have deeper issues than you should be comfortable with.
I apologize, I guess I need to elaborate on the issue of the two officers. If they did go through proper procuedures, then they should not be punished. I don’t understand how shooting someone in that situation is procedure, but if it is then they are innocent. I know that picking up shell casings is a violation of procedure, so something should be done about that. If these two men really are innocent, their supervisors are the ones who need to be punished for not going through the proper channels. My problem with this is that people are using it to unjustly arouse very “anti-immigrant” feelings, like all undocumented people are out to get them. I pray for these two officers and wish that justice really will be served in court, even if it is unpopular.
QUITE THE CONTRARY ANONYMOUS,YOU REALLY NEED TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK.ACCORDING TO A DOCTOR WHO INVESTIGATED THE SHOOTING OF THE DRUG SMUGGLING SCUMBAG,HE HAD TO BE TURNED TOWARD THE BORDER PATROL OFFICERS,WHICH ACCORDING TO THE OFFICERS HE WAS,IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE WOUND AT THE ANGLE THAT HE DID.ALSO ACCORDING TO THE DRUGGIES OWN MOTHER,HE NEVER WENT ON ONE OF HIS LITTLE DRUG EXCURSIONS WITHOUT BEING ARMED.IT’S AWFULLY EASY FOR YOU ARMCHAIR QUARTERBACKS TO SIT BACK AND JUDGE SOMEONE WITHOUT KNOWING A DAMN THING ABOUT WHAT REALLY TRANSPIRED.PEOPLE LIKE YOU AUTOMATICALLY JUMP ON THE SIDE OF THE CRIMINAL.NOW,ABOUT DISEASES.NOT ALL DISEASES THAT HAD BEEN ERADICATED IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT IN BY ILLEGAL MEXICANS,BUT A LOT OF THEM HAVE.DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND THAT A LOT OF MEXICANS SNEAK ACROSS OUR BORDERS WITH CONTAGIOUS DISEASES?HAVE YOU BEEN HIDING IN A HOLE SOMEWHERE?AMERICANS ARE SICK OF PICKING UP THE TAB FOR THESE ILLEGALS.OUR TAXPAYERS DOLLARS PROVIDE THEM WITH MEDICAL CARE,SCHOOLING(FOR THOSE THAT WILL GO),OUR JAIL SYSTEMS ARE OVERFLOWING WITH ILLEGALS.ACCORDING TO SOME ESTIMATES, ILLEGALS MAKE UP ABOUT FOUR PERCENT OF THE POPULATION IN AMERICA,AND THIRTY PERCENT OF OUR JAIL POPULATION.PRETTY LOPSIDED HUH?!?!HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF IDENTITY THEFT?DIDN’T USE TO,BUT WE HAVE NOW,THANKS TO YOUR ILLEGAL BUDDIES.TO PUT IT BLUNTLY,ILLEGALS ARE NOT HELPING OUR COUNTRY,THEY ARE SUCKING THE LIFES BLOOD OUT OF IT. BY THE WAY,YOU KEEP REFERING TO THESE ILLEGALS AS IMMIGRANTS.THEY ARE NOT IMMIGRANTS!!!!! THEY ARE ILLEGAL ALIENS. AMERICA WAS BUILT ON THE BACK OF LEGAL IMMIGRATION,PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO ASSIMMILATE INTO OUR CULTURE.THESE ILLEGALS HAVE NO DESIRE TO BECOME AN AMERICAN,BUT IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO BECOME A U.S.CITIZEN,THEN LET THEM ALL GO BACK TO THEIR HOMELAND AND APPLY THROUGH LAWFUL CHANNELS.ALSO,YOU BEMOAN THE FACT THAT AMERICANS ENJOY PRIVILEGES AND OPPORTUNITIES NOT AFFORDED TO PEOPLE IN YOUR COUNTRY.YOU’RE DAMN RIGHT WE DO,BECAUSE WE EARNED THEM!! YOU DON’T JUST SNEAK INTO MY COUNTRY AND EXPECT EVERYTHING TO BE GIVEN TO YOUR SORRY ASS.IN ALL SERIOUSNESS,WHY DON’T THE PEOPLE OF MEXICO SHOW SOME BACKBONE AND OVERTHROW THE CRAPPY GOVERNMENT YOU HAVE THERE,THEN EVERYBODY WOULD BE HAPPY.I GUESS THAT WOULD BE TOO MUCH TO ASK,SINCE IT’S EASIER TO LEECH OFF AMERICA .ONE OTHER THING,I WOULD RATHER PAY HIGHER PRICES FOR FOOD AND PRODUCTSMADE WITHOUT ILLEGAL LABOR.DON’T JUDGE AMERICANS BY MEXICAN STANDARDS.AS FAR AS METH LABS,THEY ARE BEING RUN MAINLY BY ILLEGAL MEXICANS,AS WELL AS MARIJUANA FIELDS THAT HAVE INFILTRATED OUR STATE PARKS,AND IT GOES ON AND ON.MOST AMERICAN CITIZENS ARE GROWN REALLY WEARY OF ALL THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH ILLEGALS,AND A LOT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE STARTING TO FIGHT BACK.I KNOW PEOPLE LIKE YOU THINK THAT YOU CAN JUST COME INTO OUR COUNTRY AND PUSH US AROUND,WELL YOU CAN’T,WE WILL NOT ALLOW IT.THINK IT OVER ANONYMOUS
You must be hiding under a rock. Meth labs are primarily run by white people, especially males in rural areas. And what have you do to earn the privileges you have? You were born into the system. You have done nothing. You are really fortunate. I try really hard to talk to people like you rationally, but you only hear what you want to. Your own skewed version of history makes you feel important and above all others. For you own sake, I hope you wake up Jerry. I think that this is not just a political hang up for you, you must have some deep seated racial issues that you need to make up. May God have mercy on you.
“KNOW PEOPLE LIKE YOU THINK THAT YOU CAN JUST COME INTO OUR COUNTRY AND PUSH US AROUND”– by the way, get your facts straight. I was lucky to be born here, like you, because of the hard work of my father who WAS illegal because of a broken system. I am just as American as you, and very proud of it. Mexicans aren’t trying to push anyone around. Cursing and typing in all capital letters doesn’t make you sound intelligent, just moronic. Please, develop some pride and show some class when attempting to participate in an intelligent discussion.
I DON’T KNOW WHERE YOU’RE FROM ANONYMOUS,BUT HERE IN GEORGIA THE VAST MAJORITY OF METH LABS,INCLUDING THE SUPERLABS HAVE BEEN RUN BY ILLEGAL MEXICANS.WHERE IN THE HELL DO YOU GET YOUR INFORMATION FROM,YOUR LOCAL LATINO RAG?AS FAR AS ME DOING NOTHING,I PAID MY DUES IN THE MARINE CORPS IN VIETNAM,AND ALSO MANY YEARS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.WHAT HAVE YOU DONE BESIDES RUNNING AROUND CRYING FOR ALL THE POOR DOWNTRODDEN ILLEGALS WHO WANT TO SUCK OFF THE TIT OF AMERICA BECAUSE THEIR OWN COUNTRY IS SO CORRUPT AND JUST PLAIN ROTTEN THAT THEY WANT TO GET OUT AND COME TO THE LAND OF PLENTY.DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY BILLIONS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS ARE BEING USED FOR YOUR ILLEGAL CRIMINAL FRIENDS? IN YOUR MIND NOT ENOUGH.IN MY MIND TOO DAMN MUCH!YOU SEEM TO WANT SOUND INTELLIGENT ANONMYMOUS,SO PLEASE,IN THE FUTURE KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. YOU JUST SPEW CRAP WITHOUT ANY FACTS TO BACK THEM UP!PLEASE TELL ME HOW MANY OF YOUR ILLEGAL FRIENDS WILL BE ENOUGH FOR YOU IN AMERICA?EVIDENTLY YOU DON’T THINK AMERICA SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO HAVE BORDERS,SINCE WE’RE NOT A SOVEREIGN COUNTRY.RIGHT? IN FACT WE ARE A SOVEREIGN COUNTRY AND WE HAVE EVERY RIGHT IN THE WORLD TO DEFEND OUR BORDERS. I KNOW YOUR TYPE OF PERSON,YOU’RE THE SAME AS THE AMERICA HATING LIBERALS WE RAN INTO AS SOON AS WE GOT OFF THE PLANE FROM VIETNAM INTO CALIFORNIA.OR SHOULD I SAY MEXIFORNIA.THEY WERE VERY BRAVE AS LONG AS THEY HAD A FENCE BETWEEN THEMSELVES AND US AND POLICE PROTECTION.DON’T YOU EVER TRY TO JUDGE ME ANONYMOUS, I AM NOT IMPRESSED AT ALL WITH YOUR SEEMINGLY SELF-IMPORTANCE.YOU WON’T BE HAPPY UNTIL AMERICA HAS BEEN TAKEN OVER BY ILLEGALS FROM FAILED THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES.BY THE WAY,YOU SEEM TO HAVE AN AVERSION TO MY COLORFUL LANGUAGE.YOU’RE NOT BY CHANCE CONNECTED WITH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ARE YOU?THAT WOULD EXPLAIN A LOT OF THINGS.I GOTTA GO NOW ANONYMOUS,YOU TAKE CARE AND STAY LOW,”CAUSE TROUBLES BREWIN” PS.–DON’T LET MY TYPING IN LARGE LETTERS BOTHER YOU,I JUST DON’T HAPPEN TO HAVE A MASTERS DEGREE,BUT THEN AGAIN, SOME OF THE DUMBEST ASSHOLES I EVER MET IN THE MARINE CORPS HAD MASTERS DEGREES
estimado:Assistant,no pueden ammistiar a una persona que figura como un assesino siendo un representante de la autoridad ya que en toda la frontera de mexico y los Estados Unidos existe una corrupcion generalizada por parte de border patrol que resiben sobornos por traficantes y assesinan a inocentes,estan corrompidas todas las corporaciones policiacas en cargadas de resguardar la seguridad nacional.en el paso texas un inspector aduanero fue combictado,por corrupcion yo tengo los documentos que lo justifican.
COULD SOMEONE PLEASE TRANSLATE JUAN PABLO’S COMMENT. I WANT TO SEE IF HE’S BEING NICE,INFORMATIVE,OR JUST PLAIN SNOTTY.THANK YOU
I belive what these two officers did was the right thing to do. Illegal Immigrants are invading the United States. Not only is is illegal but they are trafficing illegal drugs. These two acting upon what they were trained to do, not only to protect them but to protect this country. God Bless Ramos and Compean as well as there families. Hopefully justice will be served.
Mr. Johnny Sutton needs to do alot of Prison Time, And the American People need to take a harder look at the Bush Administration. Mr Bush should be Impeached for this and many other Illegal actions. The end of America is coming. The Homeland Security Office is just a big joke. How can you have Homeland Security with the Borders wide open. Both Johnny Sutton and the Judge that prosecuted the Border Patrol Agent were both appointed by Mr. Bush. That and only that speaks of a malicious conspiracy in the United States. We have Mexican consolate that is demanding that the US prosecute these and other individuals. This is all part of a larger Conspiracy related to SPP.GOV If the American people want to stop this Impeach Bush now. Pull the troops back from Iraq and put them om our own border. Then control the flow of people entering the United States. Prosecute all the individuals involved in this matter. Prison time.
ESTOY DE ACUERDO EN QUE SE PARE LA INMIGRACION INDOCUMENTADA Y SE FRENE A AQUELLAS PERSONAS QUE TRAFICAN CON HUMANO Y DROGA ….PERO EL DISPARAR POR LA ESPALDA A UNA PERSONA DESARMADA POR MUY CRIMINAL QUE SEA ESO ES VIOLAR LOS DERECHOS HUMANOS
anonymous… shut up already.. at this point i am likely to believe you are a drug dealer yourself.. slinging mud so you could get the chance to get lawinforcement officers in prison yourself so you can be free to sell drugs on OUR streets… Bush is a damn moron and who ever voted for him is probably slapping themselves right now… Sutton is an idiot and needs to be imprisoned for endangering everyone in the United States by giving immunity to a drug smuggler… everyone involved should.. Bush needs to be impeached… he will never free them.. he only has one more year until he is out of office… he doesn’t care… as long as he can sit in the white house and go on his many vacation trips, he could care less… after all… Bush sent many of our men over seas to fight Sadam instead of going after the REAL danger… Bin Laden… hell if he doesn’t care about killing our family members (military)… what makes anyone think he cares about two border patrol agents? Bush should never have been in office… I never voted for him… I thought his dad was an idiot and I sure as hell didn’t want to see Bush Jr. running our country…. but saddly some did vote for his rotten ass… and look at what he has done since he has been in office… The man has made our country a joke…. since taking office he has let the bad guys go and imprisoned the good guys…. he pardoned 16 drug dealers at christmas time while allowing Ramos and Comean to stay in prison as to get beaten… Bin Laden never struck back because he could plainly see our country wasn’t the great country it once was…. People like Bush have taken us back years… now Mexico thinks we are a joke… Illegal aliens know they can walk right into the country and get away with it… because Bush will let them… Mexico needs to take more pride in their country so aliens wouldnt feel the need to come over here… unless you scare the aliens they will feel free to come and go when ever they want… if Border Patrol agents are not allowed to fire at someone… then why do they carry guns?? Anonymous… grow up… quit dealing or smuggling drugs… I know that you feel like you can right now because Bush will back you up… HOWEVER…. BUSH WONT BE AROUND FOREVER…. PSSSSSSSSTTTTT…. THIS IS HIS LAST YEAR IN OFFICE… and you are obiviously scared to let any of us know who you are by putting anonymous… in fear that those of us who know this is a miscarriage of justice, will find you… NOT EVERYONE IN THIS COUNTRY has a friendship with drug smugglers like Bush and Sutton… When Bush is no longer in office… who is going to take over his love for drug smugglers (Davila) and american murderers (Bin Laden) instead of for the country (UNITED STATES) and fellow americans (us as well as our troops) he tries to pretend he loves… Hell Bush should be sent to Mexico and given NO allowance back into this country for his lack of respect…. FREE RAMOS AND COMPEAN… SEND ALL THOSE WHO WANT THEM IN PRISON TO MEXICO AND DON’T ALLOW THEM BACK INTO THE UNITED STATES…
I feel that when we finish with Iraq we should invade Mexico and take over the Mexican Government. I would like some cheap ocean front property. Then the illegals can become U.S. citizens and stay in their homeland and shop at WalMart.
All the talk is for a presidential pardon for Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean. Sorry, it ain’t comin. If there is a new trial for Scooter Liby there should be a new trial for Ignacio Ramos.
Is any thing being done to get a new trial for Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean? Is there a body of people organized? If not let’s organize.
A new trial, and appeal, what ever works and release until after the process is complete.
It would be great to set up a national fund at a major bank.
The money to be used for Ramos, Compean and Hernandez
for the expences they have lost and to help with legal fees.
Like can you spare a few bucks for our law enforcement officers
who have been betrayed by their own country… but not by the
people!!! I bet alot of people would donate if it’s a major bank.
It’s sad our Country is not listening to the people anymore.
The people want justice for our border agents and Sheriff
Hernandez. But the Whte House doesn’t seem to care anymore
about what the citizens want.
Touchdown! That’s a really cool way of pttinug it!
4Ca0me gmdbhhcgvhpg
Ron Paul in ’08 if you care about Freedom and the Constitution.
LOU DOBBS IS DOING A SPECIAL ON THE GUARDS TUESDAY AT 8pm
Border guards thrown in prison for doing their job –protecting U.S. borders. Lou Dobbs is live in Mississippi demanding answers and asking, “How can the government justify this betrayal?” “Border Betrayal,” a CNN Primetime Special hosted by Lou Dobbs, live Tuesday night at 8 p.m. ET
[…] After the injustice perpetrated upon Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, who in their right mind would even consider pursuing a career as a United States border agent? Additionally, are there any current border agents familiar with this incredibly tragic story who will not pause to reflect, as they spy illegals entering the U.S. from Mexico, what performing their job might net them–serious jail time? I wouldn’t blame them. I will blame our president. read more… […]
LEXI, YOU MIGHT WANT TO CHECK OUT DUNCAN HUNTER AS A POSSIBLE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE .
I feel that not only should these men be pardoned because they did do the job they signed up for. But I find my mind fuzy when George Bush speaks of better border patrol. I know that he isnt saying lets shoot every illegal, but I am sure that he is saying to defend our country. I agree with the person somewhere above me that speaks of if we dont show force when an illegal is running away then they will just keep running. Even though I am an American and was fortunate enough to be born here, if I were not then I would go through the proper procedures to become that way, if I truley wanted to. It intrests me thought to know why we are giving the illegals that were involved with this not only a $100,000.00 settlement but also green cards. How is it that we not only have to pay for those illiegals collecting welfare but now we must pay for those that got caught running across the border. Another small fact for those above that obviously have no concept of the case the man was shot while pointed towards the border agent and before hand had tried to run the other agent over. I have strong want for these men to be free, but I also feel that our president wont pardon them, because he himself is not even running the country (that is how I feel). I have never truley enjoyed the time Bush has spent in office, however, I started out by giving him a chance. However, since he cant speak much better english than illegal aliens, and seemingly knows little more about our country than the people running the show for him I dont care at all for him. He is a puppet putting on a show and now my tax dollars that I worked for can go to others that dont want to do things correctly; sucha s procedure. Our country may have been born on immigration but all of those immigrants went through the correct procedure. I could care less if those immigrants were Mexican or not but I do care about the security of the borders of this country. I could care less if the illegals were from Canada, they should not be here (illegaly). That being said has anyone though of the fact that if we are going to let anyone over our southern border lets not let the word get out to terrorists, because now all they will have to do is walk right into our country; and hey if they get shot at we will pay them to stay here and creat another 9/11!
Tancredo!!!
We call ourselves a great nation, but if we can’t even give our own people justice, what the hell is goin’ on???
all of you using God’s name should be ashamed. Jesus was a liberal and he would not have shot anyone at the border. you people do not know God in any way shape or form. you are, however, in real good with Satan. what is wrong with you people???? you seem to be jealous of educated america. you appear more racist than caring.
no wonder the rest of the world hates us. i can not imagine God liking us very much either. maybe if we were better human being and citizens then maybe, just maybe, God would have intefered with the horrific acts of 9/11. but he let it happen, and i am sure he did for good reason.
we need to be in deep prayer for our souls, along with greater understanding and wisdom. it makes me sad to think about how you are raising your children.
if you actually read the bible you would know that God’s punishment for the ungrateful attitudes of the jews, after being brought out of eygpt by Moses, was to let that entire generation die in the desert and never see the promise land. later, the next generation of more desirable followers were finally lead by JOSHUA (not moses) to the promised land.
this entire stupid, racist, fake-christian society will be allowed to die in the desert, if we do not adhere to God’s principals. SEE YOU ON JUDGEMENT DAY! hopefully no illegals will be in God’s court during your trial.
Kim,
You’re ramblings are incoherent–you know nothing about free will and determinism. However, you would make the Phelps family proud, and you would fit in quite nicely, I’m sure. Please do us all a favor and feel free to join them, checking out from the rest of the human race permanently.
hecusbus,
you obviously know nothing about christianity nor Christ. you’re not smart enough to understand my previous posting. you can only toss useless hate words at people you don’t know. when all else fails we can always count on people like you to use violence and hatred.
frankly, is don’t know many of these posting people have a iq above 85.
and yes, because i type fast i sometimes make typos, which is different from being dumb — like you.
p.s. what is wrong with you people???
Kim,
You madam, are one of the biggest hypocrites to have ever posted on this blog. You accuse people on this board of hatred, yet your aimless rhetoric is filled with incredible amounts of vitriolic animosity, just like the Phelps family as I originally thought. Do us both a favor (aside from not triple posting): crawl back under the rock from whence you came and don’t come back.
Thanks
Sadly, President Bush is a more despicable character than I originally believed
Either that, or he is being severely misled by his subordinates
To undermine border law enforcement agents especially when it involves drug runners is totally inexplicable and bizarre….this is as bad as Democrat legislators calling our troops in Iraq Nazi’s….
I just cant explain or resolve these contradictions in President Bush’s behaviour…….
There is apparently a hidden agenda that if it were legitimate would be his defense of amnesty….but since we continually get platitudes and misrepresentations this whole effort is an apparent attempt to deceive the American Public about the real purpose of amnesty and open borders..
I am outraged!!! These two men are true American heroes who put their lives on the line everyday to protect MY and YOUR freedoms which this freakin dictator in the white house is trying to take away from us. The people of this once great nation have spoken again and again. We have sent a clear message to the white house but our president has forgotten who he works for. He thinks he is the decider. Well he is wrong. Our representatives have heard the peoples’ message and nothing is being done. Instead, a handful of presidential hopefuls are using our message as a marketing campaign to advertise their own selfish agenda.
The time for talk is OVER. We must take this country back by force! I urge every american to buy a gun and fight for our most basic of freedoms. Over 200 years ago a group of men gathered the people and protested the rule of a tyrant. The time for another protest against a tyrant has arrived. Be responsible Americans and protect yourself and your neighbors. Remember who the emeny is…haters of freedom.
According to the examining medical official the doper was not shot in the back. He was shot in the butt at an angle that could have been consistent with aiming a gun at the person that shot him.
This a serious miscarrage of justice. Several MILLION of US should tell Bush to pardon the two border patrol agents.
Also this federal thug-hugger law WILL BE CHANGED to allow agents to meet force with force…NOT PLAY FOOTBALL AND TAG thugs and drug smugglers using knives, machine guns, and even rockets to protect their DRUG shipments.
Let’s NOT let this travesty stand. These agents have suffered enough! Their lives are RUINED because they were doing their jobs like the had dozens of times before. The difference THIS time was that MONEY and POWER caused the drug smugglers to GET revenge somehow.
If Bush can 1/3 pardon Liddy, he can FULL pardon these agents and give them White House Accomodations for Valor Under Fire. They deserve medals after suffering at the hands of an over-zealous prosecutor.
This would PROVE to the Democrats and their marijuanna friends that Bush is NOT afraid to do the RIGHT THING!
Bush won’t listen. We can send a message with teeth. Anyone called to jury duty declare because of the corruption in the Justice Dept. we don’t feel that anyone can get a fair trial, therefore we are not willing to convict anybody of anything until you feel that justice is restored.
I have NEVER been able to accept the unfair verdict against Border Patrol Agents Ignacio “Nacho” Ramos and his good friend Jose Compean. They committed NO crime–they are being UNJUSTLY punished for DOING their job as AMERICAN law-enforcement officers! In fact, they are being PERSECUTED for being American PATRIOTS! Joe Loya, father-in-law of Nacho, and his daughter Cindy, sister of Nacho’s wife Monica, have told me much about these brave, honorable men in a few precious phone conversations. And what they have told me is MORE than enough to demonstrate that Nacho and Jose are REAL men, GOOD Christians, and GREAT Americans!
Regarding Ramos and Compean Trial – Miscarriage of Justice..
Talk show host Laura Ingrahm recently did an excellent on air grilling interview with West Texas prosecuting attorney Johnny Sutton regarding his murky, guestionable and decidedly malicious prosectuion of border patrol agents Ramos and Compean in a fiasco of a trial which led to their sentence of 11 and 12 years in federal prison – while Sutton signed off on granting immunity for testimony – by a known drug smuggler.
During this interview – she also played sound bites of President Bush referring to Johnny Sutton as a long time “dear friend” – one he supposedly wouldn’t think capable of committing any prosecutorial misconduct. Laura also questioned the relevance of the President’s referral as Sutton being a “dear friend”… Makes me wonder if and when Johnny Sutton is himself brought up on charges – sentenced & punished for misconduct, malicious prosecution and obfuscating exculpatory evidence – whether or not he’ll be granted clemency or a pardon by his “dear friend” Mr. Bush?? – or will his tarnished name & reputation and subsequent punishment be of little consequence.
“Its a sad day in America when the lawmakers side with the lawbreakers against law abiding citizens.” – and those entrusted to enforce the law by doing their job..
This case infuriates me in so many ways: (a) the sham trial, not allowing all the evidence, (b) not allowing an appeal in a quick manner, (c) no pardon from Bush, whom I’ve learned to hate, (d) the unreasonable sentencing, (e) the horrible conditions of their imprisonment compared to others, (f) the apparent corruption of the Justice Department, probably instructed by Bush himself, (g) Justice Dept (Johnny Sutton) going after Border Patrol instead of Drug Smugglers, (h) Texas Senators turning a cold shoulder.
Bright spot: Congressmen and former Judge Ted Poe is fighting for our heroes.
JANUARY 24,2008
I TRULY BELIEVE THAT MR. BUSH HAS NO CONSCIENCE. ATHIESTS ARE MORE COMPASSIONATE.
AS LONG AS RAMOS AND COMPEAN ARE UNJUSTLY IMPRISONED SO ARE WE ALL.
WHAT NOW IS REQUIRED FOR RAMOS AND COMPEAN TO BE FREED?
HAS LOU DOBBS, GLEN BECK, SENATOR HUNTER AND OTHERS MADE ANY PROGRESS IN THEIR FIGHT FOR RAMOS AND COMPEON’S RELEASE AND FREEDOM?
If anyone really wants to see justice served in the case of any unjustly prosecuted border agents, then vote for Ron Paul for president. I know he will have them out of prison and back home with their families. He will do all within his power as president to get restitution for them, as well.
Please pay no attention to all the media garbage! We are the people and we deserve a fair and caring president. Votes are made by citizens of this country. We can take our country back! Join the ron Paul Revolution! Ron Paul will turn things around for our great nation and make it truly great again and greater than it has been in a very long time.
I have been praying for the release of Nacho & Jose and there have been so many “devils” running the show and Bush is not going to do anything. Johnny Sutton needs to be bounced into a jail cell for a while just to show him what it’s like to be separated from ones family. All the people who perjured themselves should be right there with him as well and as for that little SOB who got a bullet in his butt, I hope it hurts him for the rest of his worthless life.
omg i cant beleive at how many people really think these murderers are heroes just for shooting someone in the back.They even tried to cover it up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!it doesnt matter if the man they shot was a drug smuggler, they are not allowed to do that if because he was just running away. i know i wont change any of your minds as it seems immpossible to do so because u all are blind.
dont use my spelling and grammar as an excuse to attack my intelligence or to help your cause
im just posting my opinion and i hope u realize you are wrong before it is to late
omg, if you are an American fool, then I can tell you that to live in the country filled with illegal aliens, drug smugglers, child molestors, etc.etc.etc. is not good. It is not actually cheap, either. They are abusing our health-system, they never pay taxes, they waste too much gasoline and spoil air!
If you are a mexican illegal/legal/ whatever, then you are foolish,, because to live in the big country in the role of a slave is not good. Stupid or what?
HAPPY 4TH of JULY!
My prayers are with you! Keep the faith!
What no one is realizing is their Constitutional right to hold a people’s court of their own ! The Socialistic Federal system and all the lawyers on either side that have pledged an oath to THAT system, will never give real justice to anyone; they are all pledged to uphold the Socialistic Socialist court and legal system that the Federal Union concocted and has forced everyone under IT instead of the Constitutional system and common law that our Founders established.
They are not the only court or system – we can still claim our Founder’s system under Constitutional common law and reject the Federal court law and system. The only reaosn the Feds have the power they do, is WE allowed them to give it to themselves ! The Cosntitutoian certainly did not give it to them !
IF the PEOPLE would know their Constitution and common law, they would know this. But since everyone has been so indoctrinated into the USA Federalsit Socialist system, they have no idea how they are all slaves and subjects to the Federal system “by consent”. Once you sign your name to ANYTHING – they have you trapped !
Anonymous post #42 Thank You.
Jerry post #43, stop writing in caps, your rage is coming through it.
Jerry, Ramos & Compeanos are both of Hispanic and Catholic heritage, so why do you hate Mexican-American Roman Catholics so much? Do not be making white supremacist comments on this board, go to stormfront where your compatriots are. You are not a proud or loyal American, but you are a proud bigot. Have you ever served your country? Probably not. And it’s California, learn how to pronounce it correctly.
We all can see, Jerry, that you hate and despise Americans of Mexican descent.
I’d like to add there have been generations of honorable Mexican-Americans who have served our country the U.S. honorably in military, law enforcement, and government. And it’s unfortanate the situation with these two border patrol agents, may we hope for the best for their families who need them most.
Oh, did anyone read the article about Whites becoming the Minority by 2042 with the Minority becoming the Majority?
Does this stroke the fear of hate groups?
😉
Отвратительно. Ничего более тупого я не видела.
as a response to “omg”
an eighteen year old girl is visiting her brother in el paso texas, however she can only speak through him in a telephone with a pane of glass between them.
consider how this girl feels as she sits there staring at her brother whom she will not see for the next ten years
how could you be so heartless
Someone’s pedigree or the co-ordinates at which they were born does not amplify or diminish their value in the eyes of God, or me.
I view most illegal immigrants as refugees – and usually from a place far worse than Cuba, who’s population enjoys the longest life expectancy in the western hemisphere and SOLE STATUS in the eyes of the US government as people who will be granted asylum if they can only touch american shore.
Anyone who wants to live here should be able to – Anyone who declares himself an american and takes an oath should be seen as one by other americans.
Pilgrims ran here without thought for the wishes of the people already living here, yet we tell refugees they should either come here legally or fix their own country
It all smacks of greed to me.
Why did these two men collect the shell casings after shooting a human?
[…] permitting border agents, men who were doing their jobs and defending their country, to rot in prison. And spending tax dollars like a drunken sailor, […]
Matthew
you are truly the kind of individual that’s taking this country down the tubes..Anyone should be a citizen…?
Hell 70% of new convicts or better are illegal criminals..
Why don’t you play refugee and move to another country?
I cannot think of a better way to exemplify George Bush’s legacy. He has turned his back on us yet again. Today I was looking at the list of pardons to be granted, Drug dealers and thieves for the most part. There was one brave man pardoned but he has been dead for over 20 years. Among the living, is there a public outcry for justice with any other person or persons grater to or equal to Ramos and Compean? I don’t think so! Will Obama demonstrate compassion? It would say a lot about his character as it speaks volumes about Georg Bush. I consider myself a republican and voted for Bush. This single issue makes me feel ashamed that I voted for him. If this can happen to Ramos and Compean it could happen to anybody. Freedom and liberty are subject to political agenda. If the guys can read this, I would like you to know on this Christmas Eve you are on my mind and in my prayers. I’m sorry that your liberty and freedom has been taken. Nobody can ever give back what was wrongfully taken from you.
I’m sorry guys! Be strong! God bless! This too shall pass.
70% or more of all new convicts are illegals? You must be either the most ignorant buffon in your zip code more likely just a xenophobic jackass….
In Orlando this week 2 boarder busters kidnapped and raped and 11 year old. One of the suspects was arrest for rape in the past and deported. This is the problem. We cannot keep the bad ones out if we let everyone in. These boarder patrol agents protect us from criminals like this and people like you want to lock them up. There is an explosion of kidnapping along the boarder because there is no protection. Pray your daughter is not kidnapped and turned into a Mexican sex slave.
I heard the interviews on the Glen Beck radio show this morning and I made a point to see the interviews on Glen Beck’s TV show on FNC. I hope these two men can move on with their lives. I got choked up when Glen Beck welcomned them home. It still makes me sick to know they were wrongly imprisoned for doing their jobs as boarder patrol agents. I tried to remember them in my prayers and when I heard their sentences were being commuted (should have been granted full pardons) I was so happy for them and their families.
All I have to say is that’s why we needed McCain as President. He was from Arizona lived everyday life there and that makes him well aware of the complications of Border Patrol Agents. His plans of border security would have helped so much so this kind of case never happens again.
I just wanted to keep this messages short and simple. 🙂
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je suis Danielle
Je viens de fêter mon quarante-huitième anniversaire. :
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