Bush Pardons Drug Offenders – Not Border Agents

I remain concerned that pardons are doled out on drug charges and other various crime but not Ramos and Compean who shot a drug dealer in the seat of the pants. Good grief. They are spending 10 years in jail while the man who testified against them was given immunity for drug charges in the United States and allow to go home to do it again.

Washington, D.C. – The chairman of the Project 21 leadership network is condemning President George W. Bush’s issuance of a new set of presidential pardons March 25 that includes forgiveness for drug smugglers, an embezzler and others but not for jailed Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean.

Ramos and Compean entered prison in January of 2007 after a controversial ruling on their actions in apprehendng a fleeing drug smuggler.

“I believe the President’s stolid refusal to pardon Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean is the most unconscionable act of disloyalty he has perpetrated upon those sworn to protect our well-being. I know this feeling is shared by many other patriotic Americans,” said Project 21 Chairman Mychal Massie. “This sends a disturbing signal to the men and women who protect our borders, not to mention how it must affect the morale of those serving overseas.”

On February 17, 2005, Ramos and Compean pursued Osvaldo Aldrete-Davila on foot after Aldrete-Davila abandoned a van containing 743 pounds of marijuana worth an estimated $1 million. During the chase, Ramos shot at Aldrete-Davila in the belief that Aldrete-Davila had drawn a gun of his own. Aldrete-Davila escaped across the U.S.-Mexico border, and Ramos assumed Aldrete-Davila was unhurt. In fact, Aldrete-Davila had been shot in the buttock.

U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton later charged that Ramos and Compean violated Border Patrol policy by pursuing Aldrete-Davila without supervisor approval, moving spent shell casings and improperly reporting the fired shots. Aldrete-Davila was granted immunity to testify against the agents. Ramos and Compean were sentenced to 11 and 12 years in prison, respectively. They are currently in solitary confinement in maximum-security prisons.

The Ramos and Compean convictions have been questioned by many, who point to the following: During the trial, jurors were not told of Aldrete-Davila’s continued drug trafficking, for which he has now been arrested and indicted. Jurors were also unaware that a fellow agent who testified against Ramos and Compean is a life-long friend of Aldrete-Davila – a violation of Border Patrol Policy in itself.