UNJUST PROSECUTION OF TWO U.S. BORDER PATROL AGENTS -- (House of Representatives - September 14, 2006)
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Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I am on the floor today to bring to the attention of the House a situation involving two U.S. Border Patrol agents. These agents were found guilty in a Federal Court for wounding a drug dealer, a smuggler, who brought 743 pounds of marijuana across our southern border into Texas. These agents now face up to 20 years in Federal prison.
Agent Ramos served the Border Patrol for 9 years and was a former nominee for Border Patrol Agent of the Year. Agent Compean had 5 years of experience as a Border Patrol agent. These agents never should have been prosecuted for their actions last year.
By attempting to apprehend a Mexican drug smuggler, these agents were simply doing their job to protect the American people. These agents should have been commended for their actions, but instead the U.S. Attorney's office prosecuted the agents and granted full immunity to the drug smuggler for his testimony against our agents. The drug smuggler received full medical care in El Paso, Texas, was permitted to return to Mexico, and is now suing the Border Patrol for $5 million for violating his constitutional rights. He is not an American citizen. He is a criminal.
Mr. Speaker, I have spoken to numerous people inside Texas and outside of Texas regarding this outrage, including the attorney for one of these agents. I have written the President of the United States asking him to please look into this matter. I have written two letters to Attorney General Gonzalez asking him to reopen this case for a fuller investigation before these men are sentenced on October 19.
Mr. Speaker, I hope that the American people will agree that this prosecution is an outrageous injustice and that the situation must be investigated.
Mr. Speaker, I hope that fellow Members of the House will join me in this effort. I know Congresswoman SHEILA JACKSON-LEE and Congressman Poe and Congressman Gohmert have all said that they want to join in this effort to find out what has happened. I believe this is an injustice that needs to be looked into by the Attorney General and by the Congress of the United States.
Mr. Speaker, with that, before I yield back the balance of my time, I will ask God to please bless our men and women in uniform, both in Afghanistan and in Iraq and throughout the world, and I will ask God to please bless America.
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