The farcical persecution of Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean continued today as the two former Border Patrol agents were ordered to report to prison rather than allowed to remain free while their appeals are pending.
Compean and Ramos were sentenced in October to 12 and 11 years, respectively, in federal prison for the non-fatal shooting of a Mexican drug smuggler. Both men said they believed the smuggler was carrying a weapon during a foot chase along the Texas-Mexico border on Feb. 17, 2005.Osbaldo Aldrete-Davila, the smuggler, was given immunity by the U.S. government in exchange for testifying against the agents. He also received medical treatment at a U.S. Army hospital after the shooting. He is suing the Border Patrol for $5 million.
The injustice of this persecution is mind-boggling, and I join with Grassfire.org in calling on President Bush to pardon these men immediately and completely.
(HT: My wife Jessica.)