Posted on 01/15/2007 10:42:39 AM PST by Mount Athos
"If it can happen to them, it can happen to any one of us. It has definitely had an adverse affect on agents involved in border security." -Mark Parsons, President, Fraternal Order of Police in El Paso, Texas, Customs and Border Protection agent
By now, everyone in North America, and especially certain Mexicans are familiar with the case of two former Border Patrol agents convicted of causing serious bodily injury, assault with a deadly weapon, discharge of a firearm and violating the civil rights of a drug smuggler and illegal alien at the U.S. - Mexican border. Absent of a successful appeal or a presidential pardon, former agents Jose Alonso Compean and Ignacio Ramos will begin serving their 10-year-plus sentences in federal court this Wednesday.
[...]
Mr. Parsons stated that the aggressive prosecution, replete irregularities pertaining to the arrest and trial of the two agents, including but not limited to venue issues, restriction of exculpatory testimony and evidence, government corruption and jury misconduct "has made a lot of agents on the front lines 'gun shy' and afraid to do their jobs." He added that "if this can happen to agents Compean and Ramos, it can happen to any one of us." It is also sending a strong message to illegal aliens, drug smugglers, and potential terrorists illegally crossing the border into the U.S. everyday. Those involved in illegal border activities see this as a victory for them, endangers the safety and welfare of the officers on the front lines and compromises the safety and security of every man, woman and child in the U.S.
"Morale? What morale? It is as bad as I have ever seen it," stated Mr. Parsons describing the mood of agents fighting the battle at the border.
(Excerpt) Read more at canadafreepress.com ...
Is there no appeal?.....
"violating the civil rights of a drug smuggler and illegal alien "
And we are jailing American citizens for this?
Mr President it is your duty to pardon these great Americans.
They're Mexicans. Bush won't do anything about this.
Now if they had killed Moozlims instead........
Not only that, but we're granting the invading drug-smuggler immunity for his crimes against America, and letting him sue the taxpayers for $5 million.
It's a brave new world, isn't it?
Hurray for Felons!!
Depressing!
Prayers going up for them.
ping
I don't see the media running those headlines any time soon.
How is a sincere criminal, trying hard, going to get ahead in his profession if his victim fails to cooperate?
Almost all crime depends on the cooperation of the victim.
If the victim refuses his assigned role, the criminal is placed at a disadvantage, one so severe that it usually takes an understanding and compassionate judge to set right.
LAZARUS LONG
The Spanish networks are following this one with glee.. they see it as a triumph for the hardworking immigrant.
I pray our President Bush pulls a presidential pardon for these 2 great Americans. I cannot think of anyone more deserving of a pardon than them. This is a travesty of our justice system.
Yes we are.... Heres some links that are interesting about this case
http://www.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_4508579
Also this thread with Tony Snow on the border agents
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1767329/posts
Which ones, the BP agents, or the smuggler?
"Conservatives" should be voicing their outrage elsewhere.
Obstruction of Justice is bad...always.
We can expect more and more undermining of both Border Patrol folks and military personnel.
The simple truth of this case is that Agents Compean and Ramos shot 15 times at an unarmed man who was running away from them and posed no threat. They lied about what happened, covered up the shooting, conspired to destroy the evidence and then proceeded to write up and file a false report.Agent Compean and Ramos were not railroaded by some over-zealous prosecutor, they were unanimously found guilty by a jury in a United States Federal District Court after a trial that lasted more than two and a half weeks. The two agents were represented by experienced and aggressive trial attorneys, both of whom vigorously challenged the Government’s evidence through cross examination. Both agents told their stories from the witness stand and had full opportunities to explain their version of events and to offer their own evidence. The jury heard everything including the defendant’s claims of self defense. The problem for Mr. Compean and Mr. Ramos is that the jury did not believe their stories because they were not true.
U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Texas.
It is also sending a strong message to illegal aliens, drug smugglers, and potential terrorists illegally crossing the border into the U.S. everyday.
"Those involved in illegal border activities see this as a victory for them, endangers the safety and welfare of the officers on the front lines and compromises the safety and security of every man, woman and child in the U.S".
President Bush, we need your support.. I'm begging you to Pardon these two men.
sw
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