Bush Pardons Don’t Include Border Patrol Agents
Thursday, November 27, 2008 at 01:59AM In keeping with the tradition of outgoing administrations, President Bush has begun the process of presidential pardons, granting clemency to an array of convicted criminals for whom he thinks the sentence is too harsh. But it isn’t who is on the list to be pardoned that is disturbing, it’s who isn’t.
Take for example Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean. These two worked on the U.S./Mexico border to prevent illegal immigrants and criminals from entering the country.
Then on February 17, 2005, Mexican career drug dealer Osvaldo Aldrete Davila crossed the U.S. border with 743 pounds of marijuana. When thugster Davila tired to evade capture by running back to Mexico, agents Ramos and Compean shot Davila in the buttocks.
Agents Romas and Compean are now serving 12 and 11 year sentences in Federal Prison while Davila was given immunity from prosecution for smuggling drugs on the day he was shot in exchange for testifying against the two agents. Adding insult to injury, Davila was also given a border pass card issued by the Department of Homeland Security.
Congresswoman Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif:
“President Bush still has time to do the right thing and commute wrongly imprisoned Border Agents Ramos and Compean. The fact that the president has neglected to free these men from their imprisonment while freeing drug dealers, embezzlers and other criminals is insulting to the American people who have been begging and pleading for the president to release the agents.”
In the last few days, President Bush has pardoned cocaine dealers, embezzlers and even a Thanksgiving turkey, but the border patrol agents weren’t on the list. That is reprehensible, but there’s still time for the President to do the right thing.
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Bush, Immigration, Law 
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Reader Comments (15)
Amy, that is what I was looking for in the pardons also. I have been a defender of GWB, (probably some times when I should NOT have), but I am dumb founded on this one!
I thought perhaps he was not getting involved because he thought it would hurt the Republicans with Hispanic votes but, my goodness, the Hispanics have ALREADY went to the other side, even with most being Catholic, they have sold their soul to Obama knowing his abortion views!
All I can say is, I am TERRIBLY disapointed with Bush and think if he does not pardon them, it will hurt his legacy even more.
I KNOW it will with me! I am just stumped as to why he will not do this.
He's not going to pardon them and it's time to stop expecting it. I defend Bush, too, when he deserves it, but on this one I can't and won't. Even if there were circumstances that warranted those agents in receiving some kind of punishment, what they got far exceeded any wrong doing... and from the reports during that time, Bush took an active role in their convictions.
We may as well get used to more of the same. I've read articles where Obama's administration is going to resemble a third Bush term. I'll find that ironic since that was one of the accusations Obama threw at McCain. I'd be happy with that circumstance compared to the rhetoric he used during his campaign. The lesser damage to the country as a whole. In any case, it was somewhat true for McCain as well and all of it spells "We be screwed" no matter which of the two won.
I don't know what's going on, but it looks to me like the drug thugs the agents messed with have some connections - like with the Mexican government. It's dark and sinister, and I don't like it. These men are being unjustly punished.
Unjustly punished?
I dont think we should forget that these two officers fired 15 shots at an unarmed individual that had his hands in the air. A totally and completely unlawful use of force to say the least. After the incident, both men attempted to cover up what they had done.
The agent who had helped Compean hide shell casings admitted it under oath.
These men are not martyrs, they're criminals; convicted by a jury of their peers with the help of fellow agents testimony.
Lets not forget that.
I understood that one shot hit the criminal in the butt and the others were warning shots. The criminal is the drug thug, not the border agents.s
One of those rare times I'm on the other side of an issue here. I wrote about this in Jan 2007 and, unless I am mistaken, the facts have not changed:
"Jose Alonso Compean and Ignacio Ramos were found guilty by a jury of their peers, not summarily sent off to prison through the actions of the US Attorney trying the case or a government maliciously attacking brave guardians on our border."
"Take the facts of this case and move them away from the Mexican border; move the scene to any American city or small town. Man caught with drugs, confirmed to be unarmed, sees an opportunity to flee and takes it, two cops fire 15 shots at him, hitting him once in the back… are we OK with that? Since when is it OK in this country to shoot someone in the back? Since when is it OK in this country to shoot an unarmed man who is not posing an immediate threat?"
"Agent Compean fired his weapon 14 times, pausing once to reload.. pausing to reload!!?? And MISSED every time!? Then Agent Ramos fired once and hit Aldrete? Perhaps not entirely relevant to the discussion, but he missed 14 times? Not exactly a marksman. Damn good thing this wasn’t in a small town or in a busy city with people around.
After shooting him, they turned and walked away? Is that what we expect of our border patrol agents? Shoot a guy in the back, then leave him there? Even assuming the shooting was good, shouldn’t they have then arrested him, or at least gotten him medical treatment for a gunshot wound?"
****************
That was my understanding of the case back then... was I wrong on the facts or has something changed?
I want to support hese agents, but if the facts are accurate, should they be given a pass on this? Not just because they shot an unarmed man in the back, but because they left him there; then they lied about the shoot and tried to cover it up. Is this acceptable behavior?
Men that fire weapons at the back of an unarmed individual are far more dangerous to this country and its citizens than marijuana.
I hope these guys rot in prison.
Amy was hoping for an influx of supporters as usual and more blog hits. This time she didn't get it. No verification of actual facts of the case. Whats new?
Ahh they're border patrol, they must be men of the book!
Is that how you like it done Amy? You enjoyed it when these so called "authority figures" shoot at unarmed people and then walk away like cowards? I suppose it does reveal a bit of your sadistic side doesn't it?
Of course, how would I have guessed that StephC was going to come out with that "free thinkin independent" mind of hers and support them troopers! Go get emm chief, shoot em down ......heeeeee haaaaa.
You folks must experience a lot of cognitive dissonance with your incessent contradictions. heck on one posting you'll be all for 'capital punishment' and shout at the top of your lungs to kill em all bad boys, and then the next post you'll be ravin' about how these boys were just good ole' southern boys doin their thaaang. I mean, we know children like to defend their clic, but at least grow up a little will yeh? Keep it somewhat consistent, so we arent' always having a moving target.
MV, why so bitter? I thought you'd be happy I am criticizing Bush. Don't you think it's a bit arrogant to pretend to know my motives? That's what Jesus meant when he said, "Judge not or you will be judged."
I fully expected you to say "unarmed citizens", but you stopped yourself. This drug thug is a repeat offender and the border agents thought he was armed. Do you realize they stopped illegal drugs from entering the country? What is that worth? The drug dealer is a violent criminal who was arrested again after this trial. Right, the right guys are in jail!
Do you always defend drug dealers and illegal aliens? Are you aware of the violence and hovac these drug pimps cause in the U.S. along the border? They murder, they rape...but ah, they are just innocent victims shot at indiscriminately by mean ARMED patrol agents! Maybe they should have water guns instead.
I will post the links to the court transcript in a while.
Oh, and MV, thanks for the extra hits!
;)
I have to remind you Amy the drug dealer shot was NOT violent nor was he ARMED.
It makes no difference whether you believe he was "dangerous" because he was a drug dealer, he was not a danger to anyone at the time of the assault.
Shooting an unarmed, fleeing suspect is more cowardly than hunting deer with an AR-17 from a perch in the woods. They could have killed him and youre willing to accept that because he lacked citizenship and was transporting marijuana; a drug less dangerous and addictive than tobacco or alcohol.
Lack of citizenship/marijuana possession does not warrant shooting at someones back 15 times. Not in ANY state concerned with following the rule of law. Should laws be changed to accomodate your interpretation of justice?
If the troopers had been better marksmen and that metal had torn through the suspects vital organs and killed him would you still defend these vigilantes?
I think you should seriously reconsider your position on this subject.
True, Jose Alonso Compean and Ignacio Ramos were found guilty by a jury of their peers. They should have been punished, but not as severely. Maybe losing their jobs would have been the more appropriate punishment. The prison sentences were entirely too long--some murderers have had lesser sentences. I was surprised at many of the liberal illuminati in Washington who agreed with the sentencing. Too bad we can't stand them before a jury of their peers. I'd be the first to suggest a lengthier sentence for those scumbags than the one the Border Agents got!!
They thought he was armed. They maintained from the beginning they thougt he had a gun, and pointed it at them. From their experience 99% of drug seizures have a gun involved.
He was a CAREER drug smuggler. He was KNOWN to carry a gun by his friends and family. They never even knew they hit him because he got away. He kept running. How do you render aid to a guy that keeps running? And since when do we believe a CAREER CRIMINAL over a law enforcement agent?
If he got away, he could have stashed the gun anywhere. And how do you run away with your hands in the air?
You want more? How about giving a drug smuggler immunity, and while he is on immunity, after giving him a BORDER CROSSING CARD, he smuggles more drugs into the country. How's that for facts?
I swear you hippie peacenik liberals have no sense of reality or common sense. You're gullible and will believe anything as long as it makes US (the country, the 'Establishment', whatever) look bad.