Two California congressmen have renewed their efforts to improve conditions for two jailed border patrol agents, urging the Bureau of Prisons to move Ignacio Ramos, 37, and Jose Alonso Compean, 28, to a minimum security facility.'If agents Ramos and Compean must continue serving their sentences, then they should be moved to a minimum security facility where they will not be threatened and under such restrictive conditions,' stated Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.).
Compean receiving a 12-year sentence and Ramos an 11-year sentence after they were convicted of assault, obstruction of justice and civil rights violations against a drug dealer who was retreating across the border.
'After 14 months of enduring the harsh conditions of solitary confinement, Director Lappin should do the right thing and exercise his authority to move the agents into more humane conditions,' stated Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.).'They are effectively serving a double sentence for an unjust conviction that may very well be overturned.'
Because of security threats from Hispanic inmates imprisoned with them, Compean and Ramos were segregated from the general prison population and must remain in their cells for 23 hours a day. They are not afforded basic privileges other prisoners enjoy, such as telephone use, daily showers and television access.
The congressmen noted that Harley Lappin, Bureau of Prisons director for the federal government, has visited the Phoenix facility currently housing the two agents. 'I have asked Director Lappin to review the status of agent Ramos and consider his transfer,' Hunter said. 'He assured me that he would personally meet with agent Ramos and review his situation, as well as the events that led to his incarceration.‘
23 comments:
For those of us who are losing our patience with the membership on FireSociety, who seem only interested in spending time there as a social event, does anyone that visits this site have any suggestions on raising awareness on the continued imprisonment of Ramos and Compean?
Free ignacio ramos and jose alonso compean!
Well, I say Free them right now. Enough of Ramos and Compean having to stay in any kind of Prison anymore. They have already been in Prison for a total 15 months now. Remember that Scooter Libby did Not even have to serve anytime in Prison, and he did not have to spend one day of his Prison sentence in any kind of Prison. Ramos and Compean should not have to spend another day in prison for already having been serving there for more than 15 months now. And also, The Wrong Law was used to Prosecute and Convict them. Ramos and Compean were Charged, Prosecuted, and Convicted under violating 18 U.S.C. Section 924(c), a Stature that did Not in any way apply to their cases. Ten Years of their Prison sentences is based on an 'indictment' and a 'Federal crime conviction' that does Not exist, as U.S. Congressman Walter Jones has rightly and correctly Pointed out. Ramos and Compean need to be Freed Right Now!.
THESE TWO MEN SHOULD NOT BE IN PRISON IN THE FIRST PLACE. I DO NOT CARE WHAT ANYONE SAYS ABOUT THIS BEING RIGHT OR WRONG..BUT I THINK THIS IS TOTALLY WRONG. SO, AT LEAST THEY SHOULD BE IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT AND TREATED FAIR. WE ALL NEED TO FIND A WAY TO GET THESE TWO GUYS OUT OF PRISON..I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER. I HAVE WRITTEN PRESIDENT BUSH MANY TIMES AND ASKED HIM TO PARDON THEM. MAYBE THE NEXT PRESIDENT WE ELECT WILL PARDON THESE GUYS. I HOPE AND PRAY THAT HE OR SHE WILL.
I think about these two brave guys everyday. I have a ribbon hanging from the rearview mirror in my car - Free Agents Ramos and Compean - so the world can see. What has happened to these men is outrageous and the injustice MUST stop. We, as a nation, have to do everything possible to make their freedom a reality. My prayers go to Mr. Ramos and Mr. Compean and their families. God Bless.
There is an easy way to do this. Bring back of the US Parole Commission and keep the federal sentencing guidlines. Violent offenders still have to serve have 85% of their sentences but all non-violent offenders are eligible for federal parole at 33% of their sentence.
Lifers that are charged with chaged with non-violent or non sexual-offense must serve 15 years to get eligility for parole.
Of Course to get your buddies out of jail, it is takes Barack Obama to be President. Obama would bring back the US Parole Commission for non-violent offenders and therefore, since Ramos and Compean are non-violent offernders, they will be paroled on the first US Parole Commission haring
Problem solved. I totally agree that Ramos and Compean are innocent but this is the most realisitc soulution if the courts fail. But you are willing to swallow the consequences of bring back the US Parole Commission for non-violent offenders, than Ramos and Compean do not have to 12 years that they are sentenced.
Please forward this message to 25-30 friends and family urging them to observe this National Day of Prayer 9May 11)for Ramos and Compean as well as signing our petition calling for their freedom
http://www.grassfire.net/r.asp?u=7063&RID=15661083
Everyone, we had a fundrasing event here in California with director Chris Burgard with his incredible documentary "Border". Tell people to buy this DVD and move it amongst their friends, will help give some direction. See what the politicians are doing to govern their own interests in illegal trafficking of immigrants across the border illegally!
FREE THESE MEN NOW! THEY SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN IMPRISONED-TYPICAL BUSH REGIME CRAP. I HOPE THEY KNOW HOW MUCH SUPPORT THEY HAVE FROM THE PUBLIC. I LIVED IN ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA & TEXAS FOR THE PAST 25 YEARS AND I WANT EVERY ILLEGAL ALIEN GONE - OR DEAD.
Bring Back Old Law Parole and that will get Ramos and Campean out of prison.
That means reverse all of Reagan's reform. But I do not. Only non-violent and drug offenders get Old Law parole. The sex offenders and terrorists do not get Old Law Parole.
Innocent? By their own admissions on the stand, and those of their fellow BP agents who required proffer letters to elicit their testimony and who were complicit in the coverup.
They are where they belong and while I don't agree with the length of the sentence, a jury of 12 good honest citizens, many with friends and family in law enforcement made the decision to convict.
Read the trial transcript and see for yourself.
And put out of your mind all the boo hoo BS from Joe Loya, who was admonished by the trial judge for his public activities.
I only hope if I am in a situation counter to the law, that I receive as fair a trial as these two jokers did.
Does anyone know what the status of these two guys incarcertion is at this point? Has there been any news lately. I am very interested in knowing what if anything is being done to get these guys out of prison? Today's date is July 7, 2008, and I would love to hear from anyone who has an update or the latest news..up to this point.
Hi Kathy! The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has still not Yet given out a published rule on this case. They are way over due for a published ruling on this case.
Ten Years of the Prison Sentences of Ramos and Compean is based on a 'Federal Crime Conviction' that does Not exist, as U.S. Congressmen Walter Jones and Ted Poe have correctly Pointed out. The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals now has a legal and moral obligation to Free Ramos from Prison since Ramos is now Illegally in Prison. Ramos now has to be Legally Freed from Prison Right Now!.
Please See:
Congressmen Jones & Poe on Lou Dobbs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hn7L3h856Xc
Complaint of Prosecutorial Misconduct Filed Against U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton:
http://jones.house.gov/release.cfm?id=689
I have been following this through the Glenn Beck program. This whole situation disgust me. I am about ready to get my touch and pitch fork and head to Wash. DC. Does anyone know who we can call and yell at other than our worthless politicians that do not work for the people anymore?
The entire trial and conviction was based on lies. A conviction by perjury seems like enough of a reason to me, to free them.
Why did Homeland Insecurity lie? We know why the druggie lied. Why is our government lie to hang people for protecting our state and country?
I fear it can only be one thing: money. The only thing that makes sense is that the druggies and illegal alien smugglers have bought off enough of our high officials.
Follow the money.
If this is not true Uncle Sam, prove it!!! Start protecting us and our borders. I dare you!
If there is any justice at all, everyone prosecuting this case will all go down in a plane crash with only the pilots and crew surviving!!!
They intercepted a drug transport in progress, right? They knew who they were chasing, and they knew what they would find in that van. And what happened to the guy they were chasing -- a butt shot to slow him down. Let's look at one supposedly objective writers had to say about the events and use some common sense about what is stated: "At trial, government prosecutors presented a case, supported by eyewitness testimony,..." (And who were the eyewitnesses? Probably Mexicans that were probably making the drug pickup from Aldrete-Davila.) "... that alleged the following: On Feb. 17, 2005, Aldrete-Davila led Border Patrol agents on a high-speed car chase that ended at a ditch about 120 yards from Mexico." (Gee, that doesn't warrant any special aggression on the part of the officers, now does it -- just a ho-hum night on the boarder, no reason to get all aggressive and no reason to shoot a fleeing suspect in the butt, right? Of course, I speak sarcastically.) The alleged reporter goes on to say "...Aldrete-Davila abandoned a van with 743 pounds of marijuana inside and made a dash for the border. Compean, on foot, intercepted Aldrete-Davila, who put his hands in the air to surrender..." Which is what the the so called "eyewitnesses" had to say, one of them Aldrete-Davila himself, nephew of a Mexican drug lord and who's testimony should have been impeached for that reason alone, not to mention his van was found full of pot he was smuggling. If that doesn't impeach a witnesses testimony then nothing will in this case, a travesty is what it was. President G.W. Bush was asked why he wouldn't pardon and he simply said people that are trained to deal with the situation did what they thought was best and he would not interfere. (Frankly, I feel that G.W. has friends in Mexico and doesn't want to make them mad, and those friends include drug lords. Sacrificing Ramos and Compean is just a strategic move to this chump Bush. And in case you didn't notice I am not a Republican voter.)
These men shot an unarmed man in the back, didn't report it, and attempted to cover it up. We need to keep the lawmakers and those who enforce it honest by holding them accountable. The drug dealer did get immunity but that is because without his cooperation we would have never known the truth. Think about it there was no report of a shooting until he was found and told his story. There were two other men who recieved immunity from prosecution and they where border patrol agents. Read the transcripts and then decide
I am just sick and tired of people saying that these border patrol agents should be locked up. This drug pusher who was shot in the butt got more "respect" than our own agents. Yes, this low life, drug pusher would have said "anything" to get out of his trouble, but who's to say that he told the truth or even knows what the truth looks like? I think these guys need to be freed as soon as possible. It is not right that they are in prison and nobody can make me see it any other way!
When we have evidence in front of our faces that goes against our natural emotions it is natural to be resistant to the facts. What I stated in my previous posting is information I read in the transcripts of the trial. We can't let our dislike for the smuggler cloud our judgement so much that we ignore the obvious truth. If these men would have begun this ordeal with a truthful version of what happened that day, maybe they would have just gotten fired for poor judgment. The whole point is that by their omissions, they proved their guilt.
Oscar (Ken?), legal know nothing,
Omissions don't PROVE anything in a court of law. PS. The defense does not have to provide proof beyond a reasonable doubt, the prosecution does.
Last week, a Bart subway officer in San Francisco shot a handcuffed detainee who was lying on the ground in the back -- on camera -- and was not even arrested for a week. If he explains that he thought he had a Taser in his hand and not a gun he will likely get off.
Ramos and Compean shot a 99% sure armed and desperate to avoid decades in the dungeon drug dealer -- whom they claim aimed what looked like a weapon at them. If they had not admitted being uncertain it was a gun he pointed at them they would not have been prosecuted -- under what the prosecutor took to be a one-size-fits-all Supreme Court ruling against shooting a fleeing suspect without certainty the suspect has a gun.
Which ruling should really be taken to fit suspects for whom there is no indication they have a gun (a wide spread policy of the era which the ruling was clearly aimed at). Even if the fleeing drug dealer had not pointed something at them, they still should have had discretion to shoot because the totality of the circumstances (99% sure armed and desperate) made for a reasonable perception of mortal danger.
Last week, a Bart subway officer in San Francisco shot a handcuffed detainee who was lying on the ground in the back -- on camera -- and was not even arrested for a week. If he explains that he thought he had a Taser in his hand and not a gun he will likely get off.
Only if the jury buys it--and I think that is not a likely outcome. In that case, "get off" means--at best--that he "only" gets convicted of involuntary manslaughter.
Ramos and Compean shot a 99% sure armed and desperate to avoid decades in the dungeon drug dealer -- whom they claim aimed what looked like a weapon at them.
They only claimed it to be so after they'd already been caught out having submitted a false report that said nothing much had happened aside from the suspect absconding back into Mexico.
If they had not admitted being uncertain it was a gun he pointed at them they would not have been prosecuted -- under what the prosecutor took to be a one-size-fits-all Supreme Court ruling against shooting a fleeing suspect without certainty the suspect has a gun.
You're neatly glossing over the false official statement and the destruction of evidence.
Denis, destruction of evidence, false reports, and other attempts at concealment of material facts have always been viewed in the same light: as consciousness of guilt. They always have been. They always will be. If you were to engage in such actions subsequent to shooting somebody, the cops would cheerfully send you up to prison for attempted murder and obstruction--and they would be absolutely right in doing so.
For a guy who complains about the totality of circumstances somehow not being considered by the prosecutor, you are militant in your refusal to consider the totality of Ramos and Compean's actions. Ramos and Compean, if they were not guilty of a criminal act, went out of their way to act guilty.
As I've said elsewhere, I would've been willing to accept it as an honest mistake at the very worst--but in order for me to say "honest mistake," Ramos and Compean would've had to have been honest from the outset.
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