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.165548.2

SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 13

48

TH LEGISLATURE

- STATE OF NEW MEXICO -

FIRST SESSION

, 2007

INTRODUCED BY

Joseph J. Carraro

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO PARDON BORDER

PATROL AGENTS IGNACIO RAMOS AND JOSE ALONSO COMPEAN; REQUESTING

THE PRESIDENT TO ORDER AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE PROSECUTION OF

THE BORDER PATROL AGENTS AND THE ACTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF

JUSTICE AND THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR THE WESTERN

DISTRICT OF TEXAS.

WHEREAS, border patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose

Alonso Compean were convicted of assault with a deadly weapon,

obstruction of justice and a civil rights violation when they

wounded Osbaldo Aldrete Davila, a Mexican national drug

smuggler committed to harming America's youth by bringing

illegal drugs into the United States, as he attempted to flee

across the border from near Fabens, Texas, into Mexico; and

WHEREAS, the government's case relied on the testimony of

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.165548.2

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Osbaldo Aldrete Davila, and the department of justice offered

Aldrete Davila immunity from his actions in return for his

testimony; and

WHEREAS, the prosecution and conviction of two border

patrol agents for protecting America's border against drug

smuggling shocks the conscience and harms the mission of the

border patrol; and

WHEREAS, there are dangerous drugs coming into the United

States, including methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin, that are

both addictive and dangerous, and most of those drugs are

smuggled in through Mexico; and

WHEREAS, the department of justice has also opposed

allowing agents Ramos and Compean to remain free on bail while

the appeals process moves forward; and

WHEREAS, the lives of these two agents and their families

are now ruined by this seemingly unexplainable action by the

federal government; and

WHEREAS, many Americans are outraged at the prosecution

and conviction of these two border patrol agents; and

WHEREAS, over two hundred twenty-five thousand people and

at least fifty members of congress have reportedly petitioned

President Bush to pardon the agents; and

WHEREAS, agents Ramos and Compean are now serving their

sentences in federal prison;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE

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.165548.2

STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the president of the United States be

requested to immediately and unconditionally pardon agents

Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that President Bush be requested to

order the United States attorney general to immediately

investigate the actions of the department of justice and the

United States attorney's office for the western district of

Texas as to why they chose to seek out Osbaldo Aldrete Davila

in Mexico to grant him immunity in order for them to prosecute

these two border patrol agents for protecting America's border;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the United States attorney

general report the findings of the investigation to the

American people; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the president of the United States and to the

New Mexico congressional delegation.

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