Walter B. Jones: “Today is the 48th day since a great injustice took place in this country. On January 17 of 2007, two U.S. Border Patrol…”

“Today is the 48th day since a great injustice took place in this country. On January 17 of 2007, two U.S. Border Patrol agents entered Federal prison to begin serving 11- and 12-year sentences respectively. Agents Compean and Ramos were convicted last spring for shooting a Mexican drug smuggler who brought 743 pounds of marijuana across our border into Texas. The smuggler's van contained $1 million worth of marijuana. These agents never should have been prosecuted, but they are now handcuffed in Federal prison. The U.S. Attorney's Office granted immunity to the smuggler and prosecuted the agents almost exclusively on the testimony of an admitted drug smuggler who claimed he was unarmed. The drug smuggler received full medical care in El Paso, Texas, was permitted to return to Mexico, and is now suing the Border Patrol for $5 million for violating his civil rights. Mr. Speaker, he is not an American citizen. He is a criminal. Mr. Speaker, countless citizens and dozens of Members of Congress want to know why our government is on the wrong side of this case.”