Reply from Rep. Earl Pomeroy

Well I fired off an email to my Representative in Congress concerning Ramos and Compean. Here's his response:

May 25, 2007

Dear John:

Thank you for contacting me regarding immigration to the United States and the case of Border Patrol agents Ramos and Compean. I appreciate hearing your thoughts on these important issues.
I believe that many of the immigrants currently in this country serve as an economic and social asset to our country. Many of these individuals fill positions that American workers will not take or find undesirable. However, I do believe that the level of illegal immigration to our country indicates a broken immigration system, and I share your view that Congress should substantially reform this nation's immigration policy. Individuals from both sides of the debate agree that reform is necessary; however, many disagree on how to further this reform.
I believe the first step in immigration reform should be securing our nation's borders, which may include building walls in strategic, traditionally porous areas along the southern border with Mexico. This effort must take priority in the debate, especially given the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission emphasizing the importance of targeting terrorists' travel. The second step will be to find common ground to address the over 11 million people who are already here illegally in an enforceable way. In finding a solution to this problem, we must not impose an unfunded mandate on state and local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws. Also, we must ensure that immigrants here illegally do not move to the front of the line for citizenship, ahead of people who are legally progressing through the system. Finally, although a guest worker program would be an enforceable way to allow immigrants to provide much needed labor, we must be careful that these people are not taking jobs away from Americans who want these positions and are not lowering wages for American workers.
Currently, both the House and the Senate have passed bills addressing immigration. The House has passed the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act (H.R. 4437), which makes illegal presence and entry into the United States a crime, ends the practice of catch-and-release, and increases border security. This bill did not include a guest worker program. I voted for this bill because I believe it represented the first step on the road to more comprehensive reform. The Senate has also passed a bill that greatly differed from the House version. This legislation created paths to citizenship for certain illegal immigrants living in the United States provided that they could meet certain requirements.
As for your concern regarding Border Patrol agents, on March 8, 2006, two Border Patrol agents - Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean - were convicted of assault with serious bodily injury, assault with a deadly weapon, discharge of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, a civil rights charge, and obstruction of justice. These agents were accused of shooting at an individual attempting to smuggle marijuana into the United States after the unarmed individual began fleeing from the agents. The agents were also accused of collecting and disposing of shell casings from their firearms. On October 19, 2006, Former Agent Ramos was sentenced to 132 months in prison and Jose Alonso Compean was sentenced to 144 months in prison for these convictions.
On January 18, 2007, Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) introduced H.R. 563 that would give a congressional pardon to these agents and vacate any further proceedings against them. This bill was referred to the House Committees on Judiciary and Homeland Security. Should this legislation or other issues related to border security come before the full House, I will be sure to keep your thoughts on this matter in mind.
Again, thank you for contacting me. Please keep in touch.

Sincerely,

EARL POMEROY Member of Congress

EP:KF


These US Border Patrol agents shot an illegal alien drug smuggler who had entered the US illegally and resisted the agents. How is that a civil rights violation? They didn't shoot a US citizen nor did they shoot a legal resident of the US. They shot a criminal. They deserve that long a sentence for questionable handling of the situation i.e. picking up casings? This punishment is excessive! I hope Rep. Pomeroy, if the bill comes to vote, will vote to request our President to pardon them.