An Open Letter to All Border Patrol Agents

ChronWatch ^ | 12/27/06 | Doc Farmer

[DocFarmer]

An Open Letter to All Border Patrol Agents

Written by Doc Farmer

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

ChronWatch.com

Dear Border Patrol Agents, Officers and Employees,

First of all, thank you for your service. Your dedication to this nation is impressive and humbling. You do a tough job without nearly enough support from the government, in either manpower or equipment. You catch illegal aliens and drug smugglers, only to see them back on the American streets weeks (or even days) later. While you no longer have the infamous "catch and release" program, there's still no effective handling of the massive illegal alien problem by your employer -- the United States government.

However, that aside, you do your best with what you've got, and that's all that Americans could ask of you.

And yet, you're getting a really raw deal right now.

Some time back, two US Border Patrol agents, Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean tried to catch a fleeing illegal alien at our border near El Paso, Texas. The guy was apparently a drug smuggler to boot. They fired their weapons at the vehicle after they noted that there was a gun in the illegal alien's possession, but he got away. However, the illegal drug smuggler, one Osbaldo Aldrete-Davilla, didn't get away unscathed. He ended up (pun intended) with a bullet in his backside. While hardly life threatening, I'm sure that the guy was fearful of brain damage.

This happened back in February of 2005. Aldrete-Davilla was caught AGAIN in December 2005, AGAIN illegally in our country, AGAIN smuggling drugs.

Was he arrested? Nope. In fact, this illegal alien drug smuggling scumbag obtained immunity from prosecution by US attorneys, in exchange for his testimony against the US Border Agents who shot him in the correct execution of their duties.

What's worse, and what boggles my mind no end, these two honorable men were arrested on the word of a known drug dealer and illegal alien, convicted, and sentenced to over a decade of incarceration in a Federal Prison. 12 years for Compean, 11 for Ramos.

Aldrete-Davilla, on the other hand, not only gets NO prison time, he also gets the opportunity to SUE the Federal Government for his breaking of our laws and the resulting hot lead spank in the ass he so rightfully received.

That's millions of OUR (and, by the way, your) tax dollars going to an illegal alien/drug dealing scumbag, while two men who swore to protect our borders, who went out on a daily basis to risk their lives so that we could be safe, are about to be sent to a Federal Penitentiary. A place where law enforcement officials who are now residents don't fare very well, safety-wise.

There have been many calls for the President to provide a pardon for these two gentlemen. Fifty-one Congressmen signed a letter asking the President to intervene on their behalf. Well, George W. Bush did issue some pardons a short while back. However, he was apparently too busy pardoning convicted drug dealers to get around to pardoning two men who were wrongly prosecuted and persecuted for trying to STOP a drug trafficker who was illegally in our country.

Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean are scheduled to report to prison on January 17, 2006. Illegal Alien and Drug Smuggler Osbaldo Aldrete-Davilla is laughing all the way to the bank.

If this isn't a perversion of justice, I don't know what is.

There are nearly 30,000 Border Patrol Agents, Officers and Employees currently out there, doing a very necessary but very hard job.

Now I, as an American, am going to ask you to do something very, very hard.

I'm asking all of you, on January 17, 2006, to quit your jobs.

No two-weeks notice, no nice words. Just 30,000 letters of resignation, handed in all at the same time. Something to the tune of --

Dear President Bush,

Due to the incarceration of two of my colleagues in the Border Patrol, Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, I no longer believe that I can perform my lawful duties without fear of prosecution by your own Federal Attorneys and Federal Judges. Therefore, I hereby resign my position in the United States Border Patrol, effective immediately.

Yours respectfully,

...........

Drop off your guns, badges, vehicles, keys, uniforms, and any other US Government property with your letter, so you don't get wrongly accused of stealing and end up in the slammer for that.

I am not talking about a PATCO-type strike. I am seriously and honestly asking you to down tools and walk away. Permanently. You won't be breaking any anti-strike laws by doing that. You'll just be exercising your right as a free individual to end your employment. If you've got a contract with the government, break it. They could try to sue, but I doubt they're going to flood their already overloaded courts with suits they'll never collect a penny from. And if they try to force you back to work, may I suggest you invite a couple of Minutemen over to your house? Since Janet Reno's no longer in a position of power, I doubt very much that there'll be any early morning closet raids in any event...

Now, why should you give up your jobs? It's an honest question. Here's a brutally honest answer. Because paid or not, you'll NEVER be able to do your job properly. Your own employer is royally boning two of your fellow colleagues, and if you remain in the Border Patrol, you're in the same position (bent over, ankles gripped firmly in hands).

The President of the United States, the Chief Law Enforcement Officer of the Nation, is unwilling to override this travesty of justice. This should worry the hell out of you. I know it worries the hell out of me!

Dubya doesn't even talk a good game anymore when it comes to border protection. Sure, he has nominally expanded your ranks. However, he's also put into place a system that emasculates your ability to enforce the laws that are already on the books. The US Prosecutor and the Federal Judge who presided over this charade are both Bush appointees.

I support George W. Bush on the War on Terrorism. In other areas, I also find him to be a good President. However, he's dead wrong on the idiotic non-protection protection of our nation's boundaries. Protecting our borders IS a necessary element in the War on Terrorism. Why Dubya doesn't see that is frankly beyond my ken.

Unemployment rates right now are at historical lows. Which means that you've got an excellent chance of finding new jobs quickly. There are a lot of communities in the country who would gladly pay top dollar for your training, your expertise, and your dedication to service. Without putting you in the position of threatening you with imprisonment for actually doing your job.

Now, those of you who stay on (because I'm certain that some always do) should remember one very important thing. You may continue to draw a paycheck. However, you'll always be at risk of prosecution from your own employer, for the simple act of doing the job you swore an oath to do. Think about that. You can keep a job where you have to violate an oath, a promise before God, to protect American citizens.

Could you really sleep at night, knowing that?

I couldn't.

I suspect that a lot of people who live near the border wouldn't sleep too well either, knowing that you weren't able to do your job to the best of your ability.

Moreover, I don't think you could either. Because you took this job not to protect politicians or protect corruption, but to protect America. If you are not permitted to do that, if you're under threat of imprisonment by your own boss for doing your job, well, I'd say you're already in the wrong job.

Time to find a new one.

About the Writer: Doc Farmer is a columnist, security consultant, humorist, and parttime curmudgeon living in America's heartland. He is also moderator on ChronWatch's Forum. Doc receives e-mail at docfarmer9999@yahoo.co.uk

This Article Was First Published In ChronWatch At: http://www.chronwatch.com/content/contentDisplay.asp?aid=25841

[DocFarmer]

Please pass this along to any Border Patrol Agents you know...

[YellowRoseofTx]

I am so fed up and furious with our government and their "lack" of handling this problem. I get mad all over again when I have to choose #1 or #2 in phone messages; when I hear clerks in every store or office speaking spanish to customer, clients and patients; when I see documents and signs with spanish and English; and when I see mexican flags flying in this country.

I see red when I read about some illegal's word being taken over the word of our own border agents doing the job they are paid to do.

[Oldexpat]

Yesterday found us on in the border area in Arizona. The protection of the border is a major economic driver here and still not enough is being done. We were stopped inside the US by Border Patrol who did a quick once over of our truck and asked where we had been that day.
Our GPS, Sat Phone and the antennas probably aroused some interest, but most of the effort is going on inside the US and the border is undefended.
We need the fence..to cut down on the number of vehicles and agents on patrol. Cameras and roving patrols are not effective and with catch and release still exercised it is wasted effort. The border town here is majority mexican. Mostly non HS graduates, low income,,so the community is 100% supported by tax dollars fighting the imported poverty.

[BW2221]

Let's face the facts. This became a very high profile case that could have been stopped or slowed at any time. These two dedicated BP agents are going to prison because Bush and Alberto Gonzales want them in prison.

Johnny Sutton, the U.S. Attorney who prosecuted the case, is a longtime Bush crony who worked in the Texas government while Bush was governor.

The message is clear - Don't mess with illegals.

[DocFarmer]

I think we need to send a clearer message - Don't Mess With OUR Safety!

[DocFarmer]

bump

[gubamyster]

ping

[PRND21]

The message is clear - Don't mess with illegals.

No. The message is that Obstruction of Justice convictions carry a State mandatory 10 year prison term.

[Spiff]

Who is John Galt?

[Nasty McPhilthy]

Damn, Doc! You should have posted his later in the day. Say, around eightish or so.

Anyway, bumpty bump bump.

[Dante3]

This situation is like a scene from the Twilight Zone.

We have criminals (and all illegal aliens are criminals who break our laws, many of them committing horrific crimes) we get a pass as well as special perks.

[Kimberly GG]

LMAO...the ultimate in hypocrisy...pot kettle black on the enforcement of laws in this country. Seems I recall a certain ILLEGAL ALIEN FELON just biding her time drawing 'in your face' sympathy for the OBL agenda...you DO want to see justice served on her too, do you not? Or do you blindly support whomever it is that is also preventing ICE from arresting her?

[Kimberly GG]

You know Doc...as I read this I wondered if these guys realize that if Bush is successful in pushing through the OBL agenda for a NAU, it will be the PERIMETER of the CONTINENT, not the borders between, that will be secured. I suspect eventually, few if any will be needed in their current jobs anyway. They'll probably be given an opt out or an assignment to the southern border of Mexico!

[Gideon Reader]

...and after you down tools, don't forget to kiss your wife and kids and tell them that it is going to be somewhat tougher for a while because there is going to be a lot less money around. No money for tuition, car payments, the medical insurance will be forfeited, the life insurance will be gone, the house most likely go to the bank along with t repo of the family car.

But THAT little experiment in measuring dicks with the government will sure show them. Wont it? And if the government does not blink and you have another Patco, well what the hell. Doc said it would be OK.

By the way, dropping your badges, weapons, equipment and creds and walking away is abandonment of your civil service position, which in the case of an GS-1884, 1810 or 1811 is a sworn position. That means you can never work in the field again. Ne department or agency would have you having abandoned your oath of office.
No problemo, Doc said it's OK.
Doc is a columnist, humorist, author etc.
He is NO LEO and seek the counsel of your best judgment rather than an outsider for all of his correct points is exactly wrong on this issue.

The alternative to Doc's suggestion is to act scrupulously within the written guidelines of your job description, which I recommend that you carry with you at all times.
Adhere EXACTLY to written policy and SOP's. Exactitude is the best friend a LEO has in the face of an indifferent or incompetent administrative LE echelon.

Follow your orders exactly and make copious notes in your journal, which is as important as your sidearm.
Document, document, document. And do not forget to use date/time groups and quote, with the name and rank, all those who give you your marching orders.

Work defensively. It's safe and can be a lot of fun.

[Kimberly GG]

"No. The message is that Obstruction of Justice convictions carry a State mandatory 10 year prison term."



E-mail I just received.


American Freedom Riders, 12-27-06

We have organized a big event to protest the prison sentences of Border Partol agents Ramos and Compean. What the U.S. Justice Department is doing to these agents is beyond belief. Click on this link to read the story: http://www.friendsoftheborderpatrol.com/pdf/TNA_Ramos_Compean.pdf

On Saturday, January 13, 2006 the American Freedom Riders and many, many friends will gather at the Sandra Day O'Conner Federal Courthouse in Phoenix to protest the 12 year prison sentences of these agents. Our federal government is doing everything in it's power to intimidate all Border Patrol agents so they will not actively and aggressively persue illegal aliens.

WE NEED ALL RIDERS AND ALL OTHERS TO ATTEND AND HELP US MAKE NOISE. WE NEED ANGRY PEOPLE.

If you can make a sign pertinent to Ramos and Compean or illegal immigration, do it and bring it. These agents are scheduled to report to prison on January 17th - this is it!

See the details on the American Freedom Riders homepage,

www.americanfreedomriders.com

WE NEED PATRIOTS TO SHOW UP AND STAND WITH US - SECURE BORDERS ARE AT STAKE!

[Melas]

Oh yeah, 30,000 border patrol agents are going to resign because some yahoo asks them too. How could anyone take this seriously enough to post to FR? Please?

[NewRomeTacitus]

Right on target. Some back-of-the-room reporter asked about the agents during the President's last press conference and he totally blew it off to Gonzales' bailiwick while aggressively changing the subject.

Those boys are toast unless they get all the help they can get as fast as they can get it.

I read, from one account, that Compean was a total Fife while depleting all of his rounds ineffectively while Ramos drew and plugged the fleeing smuggler's butt with one round (and then declined to fire further at the still-visable target). Nowhere during the trial was Ramos's sterling record or the smuggler's previous crimes brought to the jury's knowledge. Neither was the fact that the smuggler is related, as a brother-in-law, to a Homeland Security official AND a Border Patrol administer.

Then there's the total atrocity of the Federal prosecutor citing that Border Patrol agents may not pursue those who flee them during the course of their duties. We can buy statues who don't have messy human needs if that's true.

That ADA, her DA boss, Michael Chertoff and HIS boss should all be named in a lawsuit counter-challenging these claims that the Border Patrol may perform their function so long as they're ineffectual. The agents themselves know that they're always dogged by having lesser technology than the smugglers and human-traders. The only logical reason for the wealthiest and most innovative nation on this world losing it's efforts to defend itself from massive invasion is: CORRUPTION.

We need a revival of the Anti-American Activities Committee.

[Kimberly GG]

When you have the POTUS and Federal Government doing the bidding of the bipartisan OBL, breaking it's own laws, tying the hands of the Border Patrol, refusing to allow ICE to do it's job (Elvira, Tyson, Purdue, etc), refusing to enforce the current immigration laws, committing RICO prosecutable offenses that enourace illegal immigration for fianancial gain, etc., it has been my thought that a suit should be filed on behalf of every American citizen and everything possible done to prevent any new 'comprehensive immigration' laws, including amnesty and the attempt to secure OPEN borders, from moving forward. We cannot wait until '08, imo they are truly going to 'fast track' this on behalf of the OBL agenda and once CIR laws are passed in the next few months, there will be no turning back. (I could be wrong, but I fully expect that the President will also soon be announcing that his 'solution' to expanding the military will involve illegals, in a further attempt to cleverly justify the need for CIR, legitimize their being here and provide legalizations.)

[PRND21]

Or do you blindly support whomever it is that is also preventing ICE from arresting her?

I don't know or care what you're talking about.
Defend these two jury convicted felons or spin at someone else.

Your agenda is showing, as usual.

[PRND21]

We have organized a big event to protest the prison sentences of Border Partol agents Ramos and Compean.

You're going to protest Mandatory sentences? That's real smart, if you're a grifter.
I'm not surprised they aren't protesting the convictions.