Posted on 08/14/2008 8:56:19 AM PDT by average american student
U.S. Border Patrol Agents are Still in Prison!
Call the White House and Tell President Bush to Pardon Ramos and Compean!
On February 17, 2005, U.S. Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean were guarding the Mexican border near El Paso, TX when they intercepted a van carrying 743 pounds of marijuana. They attempted to prevent a Mexican drug-smuggler from crossing the border and illegally entering the United States. After the U.S. government intervened and granted immunity and a temporary visa to the illegal drug-smuggler in exchange for testimony against Ramos and Compean, the two border guards were convicted for allegedly shooting one bullet into the man’s buttocks and for failing to report the discharge of their firearms.
They were given 11-and 12-year sentences and remain in solitary confinement in a medium security prison.On July 28, 2008, a 3-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals upheld the prison sentences and 7 of the 12 charges that were brought against the two border guards, but overturned the charge that they obstructed justice by failing to report the incident. Although their alleged violation deserved only an administrative reprimand, the 5th Circuit Court upheld the mandatory minimum 10-year prison sentences for “discharging a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence.” This law, known as Section 924(c) of the U.S. Code, has always been interpreted to apply to criminals, not law enforcement officers engaged in their official duties.
Not only has the 5th Circuit unjustly ruled to deny freedom to our brave border guards, but they have now set a dangerous precedent which will no doubt intimidate law enforcement officers all over the United States. We simply cannot have a national policy of intimidating our border guards from intercepting drug-smugglers or even defending themselves against those who should be presumed to be armed and dangerous
Bush’s record on pardons is not encouraging for these guys.
Why would he pardon them?
They hurt one of Mr. Bush’s constituents.
These men should never have been convicted IMHO of criminal charges. Perhaps some admninstrative issues and a slap on the hand over the paperwork issues, but not criminal and not at all worthy of prison sentences. These men prevented (at the time) a wanton drug criminal from entering and distributing illegal drugs in this country. They should have gotten comendations for the actions that prevented that.
In fact, it was the US Attorney who enabled this criminal to come back in this country, under the color and protection of law, to continue his criminal behavior, which is now a proven fact.
There should be a FULL PARDON for both Border Patrol Agents! Very publically clearing their record and restoring their reputation.
Bush should just retire to a Mexico beach.....he did enough damage here.
Re: There should be a FULL PARDON for both Border Patrol Agents!
Anything less is unacceptable.
ping
FYI: Chuck Baldwin has promised that he would do this immediately upon taking the oath of office.
Constitution Party
I don't hear any other candidate even talking about them.
He should have done this right after this travesty came to pass..
These two started out doing the right thing, but they screwed up trying to cover-up their deeds.
I am sorry, but I have to take the opposite view.
One of them kept on shooting the guy as he flees back to Mexico? What kind of s$%t is that for a law enforcement guy to do? No.
We are still a nation of law. When they raise their right hand and recited their oath of office, these two law enforcers swore to ‘faithfully execute their duties...according to the laws established...by the Constitution...’
In this particular instance, they have’t, violating even their own agency rules. And it’s been proven that they lied and can’t back up their ‘story’ before a jury of their peers.
C’mon, people. Let us NOT be defending the indefensible.
Ramos and Compean did not intercept a van carrying 700 lbs. of pot nor did they shoot an illegal alien drug smuggler because none of those facts were known until after they shot the guy. All they knew is a van with Texas plates and an hispanic looking driver took them on a short high speed pursuit. He was prepared to give himself up when Compean took a swing at his head with the butt of his shotgun.
One has to consider that they were convicted by a jury of twelve which was upheld by a court of appeals that had three judges appointed by Ronald Reagan. When reading these articles one had to wonder “what aren't they telling me?”
I don't R&C should have been sentenced under the 924-C, but they did shoot an unarmed fleeing suspect in the back, avoided reporting the incident and then engaged in a cover up. The obstruction of justice counts that were thrown out by the appeals court were done so because the court ruled they didn't apply since a Border Patrol investigation is not an “official proceeding”, a technicality, not that it didn't happen.
Removing the ten year mandatory sentence would be appropriate but pardoning law enforcement officers who engage in such actions should also not be condoned...and that’s the message a pardon would send.
I agree with you, but I am afraid that you are going to be Flamed to hell...lol.
Peddling your B.S. again? Using your argument, Ramos did not shoot Davila in the ass because the bullet was not identified until a month after the event.
If they had come forward, said “we screwed up” and threw themselves on the mercy of the court I would have supported no jail time. But they decided to go for the gold and lost. They made their bed, they have to sleep in it.
The Border Patrol is a fine agency with thousands of men and women who deserve our respect and support. Unfortunately, Ramos and Compean lost the right to that from us when they engaged in the cover up and destroyed evidence. They are not heroes and to treat them so is a slap in the face to all other BP agents who conduct their duties with honor and integrity.
I’ve been mercilously flamed for a year...but I give as well as I take. ;-].
BTW - I’ve gone toe to toe with the most idiotic leftists...ths is kids play.
Kindly show that "proof". The two agents the prosecution used against Ramos and Compean changed their stories multiple times even when they were protected by letters of proffer(immunity). Davila lied to Rene Sanchez about the incident when they initially talked. They are known liars. Show your proof against Ramos and Compean.
A legend in your own mind.
As usual Andy you try to cloud the issue with sleight of hand. The issue isn’t ballistics it’s stare of mind and whether R&C had justification and probable cause to pull their service weapons and attempt to kill a fleeing suspect.
When writers phrase the incident as was done here, they are trying to mislead the reader into thinking R&C knew they were chasing a drug mule, knew they were chasing a “dangerous” suspect, knew they were chasing an illegal alien.
They didn’t. For all they knew this could have been a hispanic American citizen evading arrest because of an outsanding traffic ticket or back child support...or maybe some guy who just had one two many at lunch.
They might have had reasonable suspicion of his activities or intentions, but that isn’t enough to allow an LEO, any LEO, to pull his gun and start blasting away like it was Dodge City. Not to mention that the perp was running away from them at the time.
One may disagree with LEO department policy regarding not shooting at a fleeing suspect who poses no danger to them or the community, but that’s the policy and that’s the law. If you don’t like it, don’t flaunt it, change it.
” The two agents the prosecution used against Ramos and Compean changed their stories multiple times...”
They changed their story from the “blue wall of silence”, not wanting to snitch on their fellow agents, to coming clean when they realized they could be charged as accessories in R&C's screw up.
As it is, both lost their jobs, but they didn't go to prison. Notice how these “Border Patrol” supporters don't mind accusing multiple other BP agents of lying, perjury, cover up and corruption as long as it may make R&C appear innocent. They could care less that two agents lost their jobs, their careers and maybe destroyed their families because they at first were trying to "help" Ramos and Compean by remaining silent, but later realized this bad shoot by R&C was going to destroy them as well.
They'll throw anyone under the bus as long as it may help their argument. They aren't Border Patrol supporters, they could care less for the Border patrol or it's agents, as demonstrated. They're militant border security/immigration nuts who will support anyone who shoots illegal aliens.
That's the fact.
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