Posted on 02/08/2007 5:22:41 AM PST by GulfBreeze
by Sam Antonio
February 7, 2007
In a letter to President Bush dated February 6, Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) chastised the federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) for placing Border Patrol Agent Ignacio Ramos in the general prison population at the Yazoo City Federal Correctional Facility in Mississippi.
Rep. Hunter pointed out that he had written to BOP Director Harley Lappin in January urging that the agents be segregated from the general prison population for their safety. He received a letter from Director Lappin’s assistant at BOP assuring him that they would be segregated from the general population and that all measures would be taken to assure their safety. This was not done, and Agent Ramos was attacked and severely beaten on February 3 by Mexican inmates at the facility.
Rep. Hunter’s February 6 letter to President Bush says:
I was assured by the Bureau of Prisons staff that, subsequent to my letter, agents Compean and Ramos had been segregated from the general prison population and close attention was being paid to their personal safety. Yesterday, I was informed that agent Ramos was assaulted by inmates within the general population.
Placing these two Border Patrol agents in general population, especially when assuring Congress it would not happen, constitutes an enormous dereliction of duty by the Administrator of the Prisons Bureau. It is my recommendation that the assault against agent Ramos be investigated and should it be ascertained that the Bureau did place agent Ramos in the general population, thereby exposing him to danger, Prisons Bureau Director Harley Lappin should be discharged from his position….
Joe Kasper, press secretary for Rep. Hunter told The New American on February 7 that Rep. Hunter is also looking into many other discrepancies surrounding the reported excessive delays in providing agent Ramos with medical attention after the attack and the transfer of Ramos from his safer minimum security prison in New Mexico to the more dangerous facility in Mississippi. “There are so many things wrong with this case, from the very beginning,” said Kasper. “Congressman Hunter has repeatedly pointed out that the excessive sentence here — 11 and 12 years for the two agents — when most the average sentence for murderers is only eight-and-a half years,” is totally unreasonable. If they received any penalty at all, he noted, it should have been the usual reprimand and several days of administrative leave for failing to file the required incident report.
The national attention and uproar that the case has been receiving has helped Rep. Hunter’s bill (H.R. 563) for a Congressional pardon for agents Compean and Ramos. “We’re now up to 81 sponsors, including Congressman Hunter,” said Kasper, and pressure continues to build for President Bush to pardon them.
Before any guest worker program. Before any program that is really an amnesty program, no matter what they name it or call it.
"You lost me on the Bush bashing. I'll seek the facts elsewhere."
I agree with you. The Bush bashing is disgusting because the President's actions are not as black and white as some would presume.
As much as I like Duncan, you must know that he will not be the candidate in '08. Please don't waste your time or money.
No, my congressman wants to reinstate the draft.
Just got my messenger bag and it is beautiful! A nice bright yellow the "HUNTER 2008" printed on it. Roomy and sturdy-looking. Comes to $25 with the shipping.
When it comes to the borders, Bush is clear.
http://www.aim.org/aim_report/5193_0_4_0_C/
Once again trying to sell the guest-worker/ amnesty plan he is hoping to pass with a Democratic Congress, Bush tells the Post, "There is a better way to treat people, and there's a better way to deal with the issue of finding workers Americans are not doing, to fill on a temporary basis. And, therefore, there [sic] need—and that in itself will take pressure off our borders…if people feel like they can come in on a temporary, legal basis, they're not going to have to sneak in…it's a comprehensive reform of the immigration system that is going to make our borders more secure. I strongly believe that is important, and look forward to working with people on the way forward."
http://www.numbersusa.com/hottopic/bush_guestworkerplan.htm
$247 million request lays the groundwork for a new Guestworker Program that would bring in masses of new foreign workers: President Bush introduced a Fiscal Year 2007 budget that calls the creation of a “Temporary Worker Program.” The budget contains no details on what is in the program, but the White House has previously stated the program would give foreigners visas to work in this country for a limited number of years. The budget does propose related resource initiatives (e.g., worksite enforcement, fugitive operations, employment verification and automation of the visa application process) that supposedly create a foundation for implementation of a guestworker/amnesty program. With the exception of automating the visa process, the items would add resources to activities that are critical to reducing the illegal immigration. But the funding levels are no where near what is necessary to get the job done. And, the funds would not help set up an already overtaxed Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) to operate a huge new guestworker/amnesty program.
Attention. There is a real conservative running for POTUS. His name is Duncan Hunter. He is the only true conservative running out of the GOP thus far.
bump!
There sure are alot of unanswered questions, and the entire case gets weirder by the day. It is interesting that there is apparently no transcript because the court reporter was out sick that day, although I have substantiated this.
I understand your angst. I'm with you that I don't like amnesty under any circumstances. However, how do we get rid of MILLIONS of illegals?
Signed. Thank you for the link. I have been hunting for one.
Realistically, we won't deport millions; But, deporting the illegal prison population is feasible and is a good start. Damage control would be to seal the borders first and discuss amnesty second. Furthermore, any program that encourages more overflow in the name of guest worker programs is a sham, and any politician espousing it - including the president - is knowingly betraying the people. Politicians are not fools; they know the consequences of a Senate amnesty plan and should be held accountable.
Bush would have sparked the conservative base with a pardon - oh well, at least Hunter's speaking out.
You're welcome! Thank you for your support.
I still haven't heard why Ramos was taken out of solitary since we know that he was placed there after the trial. I do know that the family spoke out against the fact he was in solitary and they thought it was cruel. I wondered if he was then placed into the general population because he either requested it or at the request of his family. I do hope that Hunter, like some other politico's, will not try to use this case as a political too. Unless he has inside information, I'd suggest he learn a whole lot about this case before taking sides.
Personally, I want to read the trial transcripts. There have been rumors upon rumors and we all know how reliable rumors are.
Instead sign up and support Duncan Hunter. If someone else better comes along there is no dishonor in changing later.
Please go to www.GoHunter08.com and volunteer and/or donate.
Also, Duncan has a strong following here on Free Republic, so join in by voting for him in the Free Republic straw poll: http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/poll?poll=170
The Federal government in conjunction with the border states is trying to seal the southern border. Your idea regarding the deportation of the illegal prison population sound fine, except the countries of origin would have to take responsiblity for them, and I'm not sure they would be so willing. I certainly would want the origin countries to pay the tab for the repatriation.
I don't want amnesty any more than you do, but again, what do we do with those already here?
It is about time Republicans started doing things right for our Country!
You go Duncan Hunter...
Hunter was on Roger’s show yestersday Just click on
......Tuesday July 17, 2007 3pm...........
http://www.rogerhedgecock.com/cc-common/podcast.html
Petition signed. Thanks for posting the link.
I think the real scandal is how the case came to light in the first place. It is my understanding that when the smuggler ran back to Mexico he contacted his mother. The smuggler’s mother then called her friend, ANOTHER BORDER AGENT AND COMPLAINED that the load couldn’t go through because her son got shot. Promised that the other agent would get a piece of any future settlement claims money rewarded on behalf of the smuggler he turned in Ramos and Compean...follow the money
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.