Ramos and Compean: Action Needed Now!

Agent Ramos and his wife, Monica

The opportunity is drawing to an end for President George Bush to pardon Border Agents Ramos and Compean. Grassfire.org Alliance is asking for our help. We need to to step-up our support for these two men, now held in solitary confinement for almost two years. Here's my take on the situation back in March 2007, and nothing the whining-illegal alien loving-Prosecutor Johnny Sutton has said since has changed my mind:

These men should be free until their appeals are exhausted. They didn't kill the drug runner. In fact, because he did not stop running, because a bullet in the bottom didn't stop him for a second, the agents didn't realize they had hit him. Another day on the border. Put your life on the line, encounter a drug runner, try to stop him after you think you see a gun, and get hauled off to prison. This is NOT the American Way. We brought this criminal back to the U.S., treated his buttock wound in our hospital at taxpayer expense, gave him a car right here in the U.S., and what does he do - he runs some more drugs. This is NOT the American Way.

From the Ramos and Compean website:

As they leave office, it's a long-standing tradition for presidents to offer clemency. Lawmakers from both parties have formally pressed President Bush to commute the sentences of former Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, serving 11 and 12 year sentences for shooting a drug smuggler in the backside as he fled the scene.,,,

T.J. Bonner, president of the National Border Patrol Council – the agents union – called it past time for the president to redress the 'terrible injustice.' 'The effect on morale has already been devastating. You have agents out there wondering what the rules of the game are,' he said.

Did I mention that the drug smuggler, Osvaldo Aldrete Davila was later prosecuted for OTHER crimes, and sentenced to 9 years in prison...less than either Ramos or Compean:

DEA officers take Osvaldo Aldrete Davila to federal court this morning in El Paso (Courtesy El Paso Times)

From WorldNetDaily, quoting U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) on U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton's prosecution of the border agents:

...is now confirming what members of Congress and the public already figured out about Osvaldo Davila. He's a rotten habitual drug smuggler who should have been the target of Sutton's prosecution, instead of Border Patrol agents Ramos and Compean.

Here is contact information to make telephone calls and send faxes to urge President Bush to grant clemency for Ramos and Compean, via my friends at Do the Right Thing:

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12/19/2008 From the Desk of: Steve Elliott, President, Grassfire.org Alliance Ed, On the day following the Official Ramos and Compean Day of support, Ron De Jong received a phone call from one of our Capitol contacts saying there was a "heavy volume of phone calls and faxes for Ramos and Compean." While I'm indeed grateful for such a tremendous outpouring of support, both of these men remain in solitary confinement-- away from their families as we enter the most blessed time of the year. One Day Isn't Enough Giving these former agents one "official" day of support simply isn't enough. We need to do more. In fact, we need to keep pressing until they are returned to their families... Ed, I'm urging EVERY member of our 1.5 million strong team [you do not need to be a member of Grassfire to participate] to continue calling the White House and the Office of the Pardon Attorney, as well as your two Senators right through to President Bush's last day in office. In fact, if you haven't yet scheduled your personalized faxes, do so by clicking here: Grassfire.net If you would prefer to send the faxes yourself, we have provided all the information you need (including fax numbers) at this special FaxFire site. Whatever method you choose, it is vital that you do something to help. Thank you! We simply must keep up the pressure, and taking 5 minutes out of our day to call once or twice a week does make an impact. Here are the contact numbers that you need: White House: 202-456-1111, Office of the Pardon Attorney: 202-616-6070 Sen. Lugar 202-224-4814 Sen. Bayh 202-224-5623 Remember, when calling be polite in your demands that their lengthy prison sentences be commutated. Alert Your Friends This terrible story is an American tragedy, and as such I want as many American citizens to know who Ramos and Compean are. I want them to know how these two men put their lives on the line for us. And finally, I want them to know how much they need us to step up for them in their hour of need. Please forward this message to 20-25 friends--encouraging them to stand with you on behalf of Ramos and Compean by calling the numbers above, and scheduling personal faxes by clicking below: Grassfire.net We need to continue to press for their freedom--right to the end. Please commit with me to call a couple of times each week on behalf of Ramos and Compean. Thanks for standing with Grassfire. Steve P.S: To write Jose Compean or Nacho Ramos, see below: Ignacio Ramos #58079-180 FCI Phoenix Federal Correctional Institution 37910 N. 45th Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85086 Jose Compean #58080180 FCI Elkton PO Box 10 Lisbon, OH 44432