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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, On February 17, 2005, Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose |
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Alonso Compean, while on a routine patrol for the United States |
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Border Patrol, noticed a van near the United States-Mexico border |
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and signaled for the driver to stop for an identification check; the |
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driver, Mexican drug-runner Osvaldo Aldrete-Davila, failed to |
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comply with the request, and the ensuing altercation resulted in |
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the nonfatal shooting of Mr. Aldrete-Davila; and |
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WHEREAS, Although Agents Ramos and Compean, who both have |
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clean disciplinary records in relation to the use of firearms |
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during their service to the border patrol, have maintained their |
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innocence of the charges in the shooting, they were nonetheless |
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convicted of crimes against Mr. Aldrete-Davila and sentenced to 11 |
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years and one day and 12 years in prison, respectively; the |
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convictions, however, were based in part on testimony offered by |
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Mr. Aldrete-Davila in exchange for immunity from prosecution for |
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transporting drugs in the van; and |
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WHEREAS, The United States Border Patrol has the crucial task |
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of securing the almost 2,000-mile United States-Mexico border |
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against terrorists, drug smugglers, human traffickers, and other |
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criminal elements who have undertaken organized illegal activity in |
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the United States, thereby endangering the large, growing, and |
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economically vital communities along the border; and |
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WHEREAS, This increasingly perilous situation has put |
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excessive pressure on the brave but outnumbered Americans who risk |
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their lives daily to secure our border; in turn, this pressure |
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should be given proportionate consideration in the punishment meted |
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out to Agents Ramos and Compean for the events of February 17, 2005; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, The Texas Legislature understands the |
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constitutional and moral responsibility government leaders have to |
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protect the citizens of this country and to support and defend those |
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who risk their lives carrying out that mission, and concomitantly |
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holds in high esteem the efforts of the prosecutors and the decision |
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made by the jury in relation to the actions of Agents Ramos and |
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Compean; the legislature also respects the deference shown for the |
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laws of this country by Agents Ramos and Compean when they freely |
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turned themselves in to United States marshals to begin their |
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prison sentences; and |
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WHEREAS, The president of the United States, under Article |
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II, Section 2, of the United States Constitution, has the power to |
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grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, |
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except in cases of impeachment, and President George W. Bush, as of |
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the end of 2006, had pardoned 113 people since taking office; and |
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WHEREAS, Given their outstanding service as border patrol |
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agents, their willingness to risk their safety to protect our |
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border from a dangerous drug smuggler, their standing as |
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responsible husbands and fathers, and their respectful deference to |
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the decisions of the court, Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso |
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Compean deserve to be granted a presidential pardon so as to reclaim |
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their lives as productive citizens and responsible husbands and |
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fathers; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 80th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby respectfully request that the president of the United States |
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pardon United States Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose |
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Alonso Compean; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official |
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copies of this resolution to the president of the United States and |
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the United States Department of Justice, Office of the Pardon |
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Attorney. |