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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, United States Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and |
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Jose Compean worked on the United States border with Mexico; and |
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WHEREAS, David Aguilar, the chief of the Office of Border |
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Patrol, testified before the United States Senate that "Border |
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violence incidents are perpetrated against our agents on an all too |
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frequent basis . . . from February 1, 2005, through June 30, 2007, |
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there have been 1,982 incidents where border patrol agents have |
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been assaulted. These assaults include rockings, physical |
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assaults, vehicular assaults, as well as shootings and assaults |
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with other weapons. . . . Border patrol agents have responded with |
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the use of deadly force on 116 occasions, with 144 agents |
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discharging their weapons during these 116 incidents"; and |
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WHEREAS, This information would support the premise that |
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border patrol agents operate in a climate of tension, danger, and |
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even fear for the safety of themselves and others; and |
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WHEREAS, On February 17, 2005, near Fabens, Texas, Agents |
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Ramos and Compean, along with other border patrol agents, were |
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involved in the pursuit of Osvaldo Aldrete-Davila, a Mexican |
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national they suspected of smuggling drugs; and |
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WHEREAS, After a high speed vehicle chase, Aldrete-Davila |
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abandoned the van he was driving on the United States side of the |
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border and fled on foot toward the border with Mexico; and |
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WHEREAS, Agents Ramos and Compean also exited their |
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respective vehicles and continued the pursuit on foot, with Agent |
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Compean attempting to intercept Aldrete-Davila while Agent Ramos |
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chased Aldrete-Davila directly; and |
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WHEREAS, During the incident, both Agents Ramos and Compean |
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discharged their weapons, and Agent Ramos testified later that he |
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believed Aldrete-Davila had a gun in his hand, while Agent Compean |
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testified that he saw something "shiny" in Aldrete-Davila's hand, |
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but no weapon was recovered; and |
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WHEREAS, According to forensic evidence, Aldrete-Davila was |
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struck by a bullet from the gun of Agent Ramos, but both agents |
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later testified that they did not realize at the time that he had |
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been hit; and |
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WHEREAS, Aldrete-Davila fled across the border into Mexico; |
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the van driven by Aldrete-Davila was discovered by other border |
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patrol agents to contain 743 pounds of marijuana, worth |
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approximately $1 million; and |
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WHEREAS, Following an investigation by the United States |
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Department of Homeland Security's Inspector General and the office |
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of the United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas, |
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Agents Ramos and Compean were arrested approximately one month |
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after the incident; and |
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WHEREAS, Serious questions have been raised about the manner |
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in which the office of United States Attorney Johnny Sutton |
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prosecuted the agents, basing his cases largely on the testimony of |
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Aldrete-Davila, testimony for which he was granted "limited use |
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immunity" by United States Attorney Sutton's office; and |
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WHEREAS, Aldrete-Davila was not required to fully honor his |
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immunity agreement and testify about his alleged involvement in |
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drug trafficking after the events of February 17, 2005, and before |
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the trial of Agents Ramos and Compean began; and |
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WHEREAS, Aldrete-Davila was arrested in the United States on |
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November 15, 2007, and charged with conspiracy to possess marijuana |
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between June 1, 2005, and November 30, 2005, and also charged with |
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smuggling approximately 750 pounds of marijuana, worth over $1 |
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million, in October 2005, during the period he possessed "limited |
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use immunity" for his testimony against Agents Ramos and Compean; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Among other charges, Border Patrol Agents Ramos and |
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Compean were charged by the United States Attorney's office under |
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Section 924(c), Title 18, United States Code, with "Discharge of a |
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firearm in commission of a crime of violence," which carries a |
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10-year mandatory minimum sentence; and |
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WHEREAS, Agents Ramos and Compean admitted that they did not |
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fully adhere to border patrol policies with regard to reporting the |
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incident, an error that usually would have led to a written |
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reprimand, suspension, or dismissal; and |
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WHEREAS, Agents Ramos and Compean were found guilty of |
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violating Section 924(c), Title 18, United States Code, and |
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received the 10-year mandatory minimum sentence; and |
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WHEREAS, Agents Ramos and Compean were also convicted on |
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other charges, so that their total sentences amounted to 11- and |
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12-year terms, respectively; and |
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WHEREAS, According to the United States Sentencing |
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Commission, the average sentences in federal cases of sexual abuse |
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averaged 8-1/3 years in 2006, the last year for which data is |
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available; and |
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WHEREAS, According to the United States Sentencing |
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Commission, sentences in federal cases for manslaughter averaged |
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just less than four years in 2006; and |
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WHEREAS, According to the United States Sentencing |
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Commission, the average sentences in federal cases of assault |
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averaged just less than three years in 2006; and |
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WHEREAS, According to the United States Sentencing |
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Commission, sentences in federal cases involving firearms charges |
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averaged three years in 2006; and |
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WHEREAS, The sentences imposed on Agents Ramos and Compean |
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are profoundly disproportionate based on the totality of |
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circumstances and sentencing guidelines; and |
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WHEREAS, These disproportionate sentences constitute a |
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miscarriage of justice; and |
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WHEREAS, Former Deputy Chief Luis Barker, who headed the |
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border patrol office in the El Paso sector at the time of the |
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incident, stated before the United States Senate that he agreed the |
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penalty received by Agents Ramos and Compean was disproportionate; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, United States Attorney Sutton, referring to the |
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sentences received by Agents Ramos and Compean, said, "Some say |
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it's just too much time, and I have some sympathy for that"; and |
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WHEREAS, Aldrete-Davila was reported in a press account to |
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have stated that he thought the sentences were excessive; and |
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WHEREAS, Agents Ramos's and Compean's motions to remain free |
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on bond while they appeal their sentences were denied; and |
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WHEREAS, Agents Ramos and Compean have been imprisoned since |
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January 17, 2007, awaiting appeal; and |
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WHEREAS, Agent Ramos has been assaulted by other inmates in |
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prison, and both men are at risk in prison given their law |
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enforcement background; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby respectfully request that the president of the United States |
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immediately commute the sentences of Agents Ramos and Compean to |
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time served and grant a full pardon to both agents; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward an |
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official copy of this resolution to the president of the United |
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States of America. |