Ramos And Compean

H O W A R DP . " B U C K " M c K E O N

WASHINGTONOFFICE 2 3 5 1R A Y B U R NH O U S EO F F I C E BUILOING WASHINGTON,DC 20515 (202) 225-1956

2sTHDrsrRrcr,CnLrroaMr COMMITTEEON EOUCATION AND LABOR

SANTA CLARITAVALLEYOFFICE 26650THE OLD ROAD,SUITE203 SANTA CLARITA,CA 91381

SENIOR REPUBLICAN MEME€R

COMMITTEE O N A B M E DS E R V I C E S SUBCOMMITTEE ONAIRANDLANOFORCES SUECOMMITTEE ONMILITABY READINESS

M E M B E RO F R E P U B L I C AW N H I PT E A M

Oongreis ofthelf,nitsd Ftsrss Houss ofRspressntstioss l$arhington, E€ 20"-ot2t March8.2007

{ 6 6 1 )2 5 + 2 1 r r ANTELOPEVALLEYOFFICE 1OO8 WEST AVENUEM_14,SUITEE-l PALMDAtE,CA 93551 (661) 274-9688 SANBERNARDINO I N, Y O , A N O M O N OC O U N T I E S {800)565-4333 W E BS I T E w.house.gov/mckeon/

Dear Mr. Thankyou for contactingme regardingBorderPatrolagentsIgnacioRamosand JoseCompean. You may be pleasedto know that I am an originalco-sponsor of HR 563,the Congressional Pardonfor BorderPatrolAgentsRamosand CompeanAct. This bill is currentlypendingin the HouseJudiciaryand HomelandSecurityCommittees. As you know, on February17, 20A5,BorderPatrolagentsRamosand Compeanconfronted illegalalien OsbaldoAldrete-Davilawho was transporting743lbsof marijuanafrom Mexico into the U.S. Accordingto newsstories,Ramosresponded to a call for backup from Compeanwho had tried to pull Aldrete-Davilaover. Aldrete-Davilaran from the BorderPatrolagentsandafter hearingshotsfired and seeingCompeanon the ground,RamosshotAldrete-Davila,

Theprosecution arguedthatRamosandCompean firedat Aldrete-Davila afterhetriedto surrender.Further,testimonyat thetrial revealed that,aftertheshooting,RamosandCompean hid theirfirearmsandfailedto reporttheincidentto theirsuperiors. 'fexas jury subsequently A convictedRamosand Compeanof assaultwith seriousbodily injury; assaultwith a deadlyweapon;dischargeof a firearmin relationto a crime of violence;and a civil rightsviolation. A U.S. District CourtJud.gesentenced both agentsto over a decadein prison.

THISSTATION€RYPffINTEDON PAPERMADE OF SECYCLED FIBERS

I am disappointed that thejudge did not takeinto accountthe mitigatingcircumstances of this case. We shouldbe commendingBorderPatrolagentsfor pursuinga fleeingdrug smuggler,not sendingthemto prisonbasedon the testimonyof a criminalwho receivedfull immunityto testify. Evenmore outrageous, Aldrete-Davilais now suingthe BorderPatrolfor $5 million for violatinghis civil rights. The U.S, DistrictAttorney'svigorousprosecutionof this casedoes nothingbut demoralizeour BorderPatroland hinderstheir ability to stopthe flow of illegal immigrants,drugs,counterfeitgoodsand possibleterroristsinto the U.S. Thank you againfor contactingme, I look forward to hearingfrom you on other mattersof interestor concern. Sincerely,

HowardP. "Buck" McKeon Memberof Congress

HPM/PSC