Washington, D.C. – In a letter today to President George W. Bush, Representative Walter B. Jones (R-NC) reiterated his call for the President to commute the sentences of imprisoned U.S. Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean to time served. The agents entered federal prison on January 17, 2007, to begin serving sentences of 11 and 12 years respectively for shooting and wounding an illegal alien drug smuggler who brought 743 pounds of marijuana across the U.S. border in 2005.

“As you conclude the final months of your term as President of the United States, I am writing to once again call on you to commute the sentences of U.S. Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean,” Congressman Jones wrote. “These men have served nearly two years in federal prison for doing their job to protect the American people from a Mexican drug smuggler who brought 743 pounds of marijuana across our border.”

“Before leaving office, I know you will use your constitutional power to pardon or commute the prison sentences of many who have been convicted of breaking our nation’s laws. I can think of no individuals more worthy of presidential commutations than agents Ramos and Compean,” Jones continued. “By attempting to apprehend an illegal alien drug smuggler, these two men were enforcing our laws – not breaking them. Many expert attorneys have concluded that the indictments against Ramos and Compean were unjustified. Yet because of a questionable prosecution – which deliberately misled the jury about the ongoing criminal activities of their star witness, the Mexican drug smuggler – the U.S. Border Patrol has lost two of its finest law enforcement officers, and the agents’ families have lost thousands of dollars in legal fees and the company of the husbands and fathers they love.”

“As the season of Christmas approaches, I urge you to open your heart to the pleas of the American people who have been disheartened and outraged by the terrible injustice committed against these U.S. Border Patrol agents and their families,” Jones wrote. “While you have already spared I. Scooter Libby from serving even one day of his ‘excessive’ 30-month prison term, agents Ramos and Compean have served nearly 22 months of their 11 and 12-year prison sentences.”

“No president could hope to solve all of the problems currently facing our nation before the conclusion of their term. But, before leaving office, you could secure a favorable place in history by correcting one of the worst miscarriages of justice ever committed against our nation’s law enforcement officers,” Jones concluded. “Please answer the prayers of thousands of Americans, and the Ramos and Compean families, by commuting the sentences of these two Hispanic-American heroes.”

Click here to view a copy of the letter.