Judge Orders Hearing in JW Lawsuit on Behalf of Border Patrol Agents
By Tom Fitton
Jul 24, 2007
On Monday, July 23, Judicial Watch attorneys were in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia asking the court to compel the Department of Homeland Security to release documents related to the federal prosecution of Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean, two U.S. Border Patrol agents who were sent to jail for shooting and wounding an illegal alien drug smuggler in the buttocks. For this “crime,” the agents were given 11 and 12 year jail sentences respectively.
Judge Orders Hearing in JW Lawsuit on Behalf of Border Patrol Two
Judge Orders Hearing in JW Lawsuit on Behalf of Border Patrol Two
In January, Judicial Watch filed a series of Freedom of Information (FOIA) requests with the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice and the State Department. All three agencies failed to respond to these requests or turn over documents, forcing us to file a lawsuit in March. Judge Richard J. Leon, presided over the case.
Here’s what we want to know: What “deals,” if any, were made between the U.S. and Mexican governments related to how the incident was handled (or, more likely, mishandled). It just seems odd to us that the federal government would choose to so aggressively prosecute two agents following the shooting incident, which took place in February 2005, while providing the illegal alien drug smuggler free medical care for his wounds and full immunity for his testimony.
Of course, the case of Ramos and Compean received more media attention last week as the Senate Judiciary Committee held its own hearing to investigate the matter. Following the hearing, even liberal Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein, who is usually on the side of the illegals, called on President Bush to commute the jail sentences.
In fact, Judicial Watch uncovered documents in 2006 from the Department of Homeland Security that describe incidents along the nation’s southern border involving shots fired on both sides, unmarked Mexican helicopters invading U.S. airspace, drug smuggling, and confrontations between U.S. Border Patrol agents and armed members of the Mexican military.
Let’s hope that the Court orders the various government agencies to begin releasing documents to us so we can help the public learn more about these highly controversial prosecutions. |
