"Two Texas Border Patrol agents who shot a Mexican drug runner in the backside on the U.S. side of the border are hoping a last-ditch pardon from President Bush will save them from serving more than a decade in prison.
Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean are scheduled to turn themselves in to authorities Wednesday to begin serving 11 and 12 years, respectively, for the February 2005 non-fatal shooting.
Several groups, including Friends of the Border Patrol, The Minutemen and Grassfire.org, have been trying through petitions to keep the agents out of prison — through either a motion to U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone to allow them to remain free on bond during an appeal or through a presidential pardon from Bush. About a dozen rallies took place across the country in support of the agents last week.
"Grassroots support for these gentlemen is just through the roof," said Grassfire.org spokesman Ron De Jong. He said people signing the petitions are saying to themselves, "'something just doesn't add up' and they're starting to make great waves."
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I just composed and sent both emails and a FAX to the White House about this:
"PARDON THOSE BORDER PATROL AGENTS RIGHT NOW!
How can you possibly allow those agents to go to prison on a trumped-up charge?
You KNOW full-well that allowing those men to enter prison will totally incapacitate all OTHER agents from doing their jobs!
You can issue pardons for drug crimes, bank fraud, mail fraud and the acceptance of a kickback - but you haven't the courage to FULLY PARDON these men who were only doing their JOBS?
Your total display of gutlessness - or complicity - regarding this issue disgusts me.
Even I didn't think you could sink this low."
The WH email addy is: mailto:comments@whitehouse.gov
The WH FAX # is: 202-456-2461
I suggest you contact them - immediately - with your own thoughts. Pete