It is not often that I repost an article to refocus my reader’s attention to the plight of those in need. On January 27th, 2007, I wrote an article concerning two border patrol agents, Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean for my blog. They were imprisoned for doing their duty by going after a known drug dealer.
What led me to repost this article is that during the Republican debates that took place in New Hampshire, Congressman Duncan Hunter addressed their plight to the listening audience both in New Hampshire and at home. Congressman Hunter is to be heralded for standing up for these two law enforcement agents. I always believe in praising those who are willing to stand up for what they believe to be right and for those who were only doing their jobs to protect both you and me.
In reposting this article, I am asking you who read this piece on OpEdNews.com to come to their aid by contacting your elected officials by phone demanding they confront President Bush to pardon these agents. At this link you will find the contact information for you who read this piece to call up your elected representatives asking they come to the aid of these border agents. In the meantime, please read my original article written this past January. If anyone deserves a pardon it is not I. Lewis ‘Scooter’ Libby, but these agents.
To President Bush, why are we locking up two border patrol agents?
By Mary MacElveen
January 27, 2007
In his State of the Union Address to congress and to the American people, President George W. Bush stated this as it relates to our borders, “We should establish a legal and orderly path for foreign workers to enter our country to work on a temporary basis. As a result, they won't have to try to sneak in, and that will leave Border Agents free to chase down drug smugglers and criminals and terrorists.”
He also stated of our borders, “When laws and borders are routinely violated, this harms the interests of our country. To secure our border, we're doubling the size of the Border Patrol, and funding new infrastructure and technology.”
So, it begs the question, why are two border patrol agents in prison who were protecting our borders? Oh and here is the rub, in order to prosecute them, the drug smuggler was given immunity.
As reported by World Net Daily, "Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean began prison sentences last week, of 11 and 12 years respectively, for their actions in the shooting and wounding of a Mexican drug smuggler who was granted full immunity to testify against them."
In reporting of this incident, FrontPage Magazine reported, Osbaldo Aldrete-Davila was trying to smuggle into this country 800 pounds of marijuana and was injured in the gun fire that occurred in being confronted by Border Patrol agents Ramos and Compean. They ordered this drug smuggler to stop and when he failed to do so, they had to use force since they stated they saw something shiny in his hand. They believed it was a handgun and fired upon this smuggler in which he was wounded in the buttocks.
It was also reported that this drug smuggler, Davila that the feds “paid for Osbaldo Aldrete-Davila’s medical treatment of his ailing backside – a taxpayer-funded recuperation at William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, Texas.” It was done in order to sweeten the immunity deal. So, as many go without health care in this country, we give it to a criminal in order to lock up agents protecting our country? I do not know about you, but I am left shaking my head on this one.
This drug smuggler even cried of “his misfortunes to his mother, who contacted the mother-in-law of Border Patrol agent Rene Sanchez. Sanchez in turn tipped off a member of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, who went to Mexico to offer immunity if Osbaldo would act as a state’s witness against Ramos and Compean: the feds wanted to prosecute the agents shooting the alien narcotics supplier.”
But, if that is not maddening enough in it was reported that in "October 2005, when officers say he attempted to smuggle 1,000 pounds of marijuana into America. The prosecution further extended its immunity to this felony and sealed the indictment from jurors." This is justice when a recidivist drug smuggler is given safe haven from the first offense then does it again?
Drug smugglers are just as dangerous as terrorists and millions have been affected by its terror, yet our government will give a drug smuggler immunity in order to prosecute and sentence two men trying to stop these illegal drugs from entering this country. Am I missing something here? The last I checked the selling and the usage of marijuana is illegal in this country yet this drug smuggler will not face any charges, but the men who did wound him while trying to bring him to justice are now in prison.
Monica Ramos who is the wife of one of the border patrolmen stated, "How could President Bush say that he wanted to secure our borders and that he would double the size of the Border Patrol when my husband is in prison," she then went onto add, "Ignacio was trying to secure our border from drug smugglers. And what do we get? I have to show my children their father in prison in chains and I have to explain to them that the president of the United States is a liar."
We have all seen the hypocrisy coming from President Bush and his polling numbers prove it. This is what Monica Ramos had to say of President Bush, “but as long as my husband is in jail the American people should know that President Bush doesn't mean a word he says." To Mrs. Ramos, I hear you and the rest of the country will hear you.
In my third piece in which I brought up, Senator Chuck Hagel’s vote not to increase the minimum wage in which I spoke of these open borders.
The only on-air journalist that is screaming from his podium concerning this issue is Lou Dobbs of CNN. He has often spoken out on this Security and Prosperity Partnership also known as the North American Union in which he said that it will lead to “open borders” He also stated that this is being done without the approval of the U.S. voters and congress itself.
Where is our United States Congress when it comes to this plan to leave our borders open at the expense of the American people.
When Lou Dobbs said that it is being done for the benefit of commerce one has to wonder how many more of our border agents will be prosecuted for upholding the laws of this country.
President Bush along with members of his administration as well as members of congress will place fear into all of us as it pertains to terrorism, but they fail us all when it comes to sounding the alarm of drugs that are coming across our borders.
What truly broke my heart is that the wives and families of these border patrol agents are now being driven into poverty as well as having no health insurance. They are also losing their homes as they face a mountain of debt trying to defend their husbands.
Ramos said of her husband that he “is being held in solitary confinement in a 6-by-12 foot cell, without windows. Ignacio Ramos is not being allowed any exercise time, and he is shackled every time he leaves his cell.” And is also being segregated from the rest of the prison population which is understandable given the fact he would be killed within those prison walls.
Wouldn't it be nice if we were giving the same treatment to Osama bin Laden, but that is another story.
Seeing their father in chains within prison, one of the Ramos children has been affected in which counseling is now being sought. Here is a father, who was trying to protect all of our children from drugs being smuggled across these open borders. As a result his children are being left behind by President Bush and this government.
In the past, President Bush has stated of those who try and help our citizens as being first responders. Well Border Agents such as Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean have answered that call and should not be punished for doing their jobs at protecting this country from drug smugglers. They are our first responders and we should help them. They should not be in prison but be heralded.
In closing, I have asked those reading my pieces to take action and be the voice of those who are in need of help. You can be that voice now by faxing President Bush and call upon him to pardon Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean. I would even go one further and tell President Bush and our congress to return these agents to this open border that is in need of protection.
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
