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June 22, 2007
Ignacio Ramos reported in 'emaciated' condition
A video of when this all happened that sent Ramos and Compean to prison.
Ignacio Ramos reported in 'emaciated' condition
Congressional aide says Border Patrol agent 'languishing in solitary'
A congressional aide who visited Ignacio Ramos in prison said the convicted Border Patrol agent appeared emaciated, losing more than 30 pounds in solitary confinement.
Ramos, who is appealing his 11-year sentence for the non-lethal shooting of a Mexican drug smuggler, has been in a "special housing unit" since he was beaten by inmates in February at the medium-security Federal Correctional Complex in Yazoo City, Miss., said Tara Setmayer, spokeswoman for Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif.
"He was very happy to see me, but, overall, he was very emotional," Setmayer said. "He is demoralized. Languishing in solitary for 135 days takes its toll on anyone."
The men who bloodied Ramos with kicks from steel-toed boots are in the same unit, Setmayer said.
Although the prison tries to make a distinction, she noted, "the protective measures are punitive, so he suffers all of the same restrictions as those there for disciplinary reasons."
A lockdown had been implemented prior to Setmayer's visit June 11, and Ramos had not received a hot meal in two days, Setmayer said.
Ramos' wife, Monica, visited him Monday and reported he was in the same condition.
Charles Smith, spokesman for the Yazoo City prison, said he could not comment on Ramos, or any prisoner, without the prisoner's written permission.
Ramos and Border Patrol colleague Jose Compean are serving sentences for their actions in the shooting of drug smuggler Osbaldo Aldrete-Davila-Aldrete as he fled back to Mexico after driving across the border with 742 pounds of marijuana in February 2005. U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton gave the smuggler immunity to serve as the government's star witness and testify against the border agents. While under immunity, the smuggler was caught in another drug delivery, but the judge sealed that information from the jury.
Setmayer also visited Ramos just days after the February assault, witnessing his injuries first hand.
"It was one of the most emotionally intense things I've ever experienced," she said. "The hardest thing was walking out of the facility while they were handcuffing him and taking him away."
Setmayer said that while she didn't have to see bruises this time, she saw an "emaciated officer."
"It just emboldens us even more so," she said of congressional efforts on behalf of the agents, including a resolution calling for pardons. "It was encouraging for him to find out our efforts are moving forward full steam ahead."
Rohrabacher has requested a hearing on the case before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight. Among its aims, the panel wants to examine possible influence by the Mexican government on the case. Sutton has said he is willing to testify.
The Mexican Consulate sought the prosecution of Ramos and Compean, and also Hernandez.
Setmayer said her office has been "stonewalled" by the Department of Justice in an attempt to get details of Davila's immunity agreement and of a second attempt by him to deliver a load of marijuana across the border.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., chairwoman of the Senate Judiciary Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security subcommittee, also is examining the case.
Setmayer said more Congress members have signed on to a bill by Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., that calls for the two agents to be pardoned.
She pointed out the case has received attention recently amid discussion of whether President Bush should pardon convicted former White House aide Lewis Libby. Presidential candidates Hunter and Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., have asked how the president can consider pardoning Libby if he doesn't pardon Ramos and Compean.
Rohrabacher says he will not endorse anyone for president who doesn't commit to pardoning the two agents.
Wild Thing's comment............
This is just so wrong!!!! It used to be there were good guys in the white hats that rode in to town. Well most had white hats, except for Hopalong Cassidy. The good guys tracked down and found the bad guys, and the town and Mayor of the town cheered the good guys on.
More and more the world is turned upside down, and the local Mayor ( our government for the most part) gives favor to the bad guys and punishes the good guys.
He was sentenced to 11 years for shooting an illegal alien drug dealer in the ass. HE should have got a medal, not prison. What has happened here to this man is obscene.
If either of these men, Ramos or Compean die because of where they are, their treatment or from anything that happnes to them while they are in prison, I put the full blame for their death on anyone at any level that could have put a stop to this insane judgement and punishment of these two Border Agents.
Posted by Wild Thing at June 22, 2007 01:55 AM
Comments
.... and Paris Hilton went HOME after a few days in jail?
Posted by: darthcrUSAderworldtour07 at June 22, 2007 06:21 AM
And little 'dickie durbin' (D for dumbass) was really worried about Abu Gharbib prison, and the Nazi like tactics used by our 'Einsatzgruppen' like troops. When are these little Morons ever going to get a clue.
Where are the holier than thou democrats now, when real torture is being carried out by their precious Mexican thugs who have been jailed for real crimes.
Where is the President with his pardon for 'his' border agents. Not to be seen of course that may imply that he is actually interested in securing the border.
These two agents get hung out to dry because they are more concerned with political outcomes. That favor a feckless legacy that will destroy OUR country.
I hope the anger of 'bushes' former base keeps bubbling up to boil over and finally explodes. I have had it with these gutless, rudderlsee republicans who haven't got the stones to stand up for their own country. They should be condemned to hell for an eternity.
And like the democrats blame talk radio, when you achieve nothing, look for something/someone to blame it will hide your own ineptude.
We are Americans we have a right to take our country back. It was given to us and not to our elected officials, they have corrupted the ideals that our founding fathers laid down in stone for US, .... not the politicians.
They have so corrupted the Constitution that the powers laid down in the Constitution can't even be found today to compare what they are really allowed to do.
If there is a restriction in the Constitution they just change it. This is where the Supreme Court was to come in, but that too was corrupted long ago, by men drunk with power and not satisfied went after more until now the Constitution is nothing but a document of antique quality and nice to look at. Because is sure as hell isn't followed anymore.
Posted by: Mark at June 22, 2007 08:23 AM
Where is the justice and "compassion" of our President. It is in the bullshit of politics. These two agents have now appeared to be treated worse than other convicted criminals. I hold President Bush more responsible than anyone else, including Sutton. Bush can strut. He can give money to Palestinian terrorist and Aids spreaders in Africa and now declare global warning is caused by Americans. Bush can favor illegal aliens(tresspassers/invaders) over American workers. But Bush cannot back up people upholding their sworn duty to protect the sovereignty of the United States.
Each day that goes by I have less and less respect for George W Bush. The popularity polls show that I am in the majority. His ratings are on a par with Jimmy Carters ratings in the late 70's. Bush almost seems like he is suffering from retardation.
Posted by: TomR at June 22, 2007 12:11 PM
We were snookered by Jorge, he is just implementing what his daddy was trying to do when his "read my lips" speech caused his downfall. He would have been at this juncture of giving away our sovereignty to the United Nations much sooner if it weren't for the attacks of 9-11. The alternative would have been as bad or worse. We could be facing Kyoto, singing Kumbyah, farting in a gas bag to protect Gaia, breaking falafel and munching roasted sheep's eyes with GIA.
No I don't think Jorge is going to pardon anyone, he owes the puppeteer too much. He showed his true colors when he allowed those Marines at Haditha to get railroaded, when the Abu Ghraib issue arose he sacrificed anyone within reach to the maws of the media, then he stood by while the kangaroo court tried, convicted and sentenced our border agents for stopping drug running illegals inside our country. Any and all respect for Jorge has left me, it's too late for a recall and what would impeachment gain us?
Posted by: Jack at June 22, 2007 01:47 PM
Darth yep I think that is all it was. I really haven't followed much about her. haha
Posted by: Wild Thing at June 22, 2007 01:54 PM
Mark that is it, they have corrupted the Constitution and have it goes to heck from there.
Posted by: Wild Thing at June 22, 2007 01:56 PM
Tom it feels like something flipped inside of him. I konw he was no conservative before, never has been, but at least he didn't go full steam into the abyss like a Dem. would do. But that is just what he has been doing.....full steam ahead, and attacking his base as well along the way.
It turns my stomach.
Posted by: Wild Thing at June 22, 2007 02:00 PM
Jack, I agree, impeachment is very dangerous with Cheney not 100 healthy and Pelosi drooling in the wings. But I hope Bush knows how his base has left him now.
Posted by: Wild Thing at June 22, 2007 02:04 PM
Bush isn't going to pardon these guys. It was his Justice Department who went after them. His Justice Department that tracked down the drug dealer in Mexico and offered him immunity to testify against the agents. His Justice Department who gave this drug dealer immunity a second time for running drugs into the US. His Justice Department who built their case upon the testimony of a known drug runner. To pardon these men would mean his Justice Department screwed up big time.
Posted by: BobF at June 22, 2007 02:52 PM
Bob your right, yessss your so right about all of that. Great comment Bob and true every word.
And Bush does not seem like a man that would say he was wrong easily plus adding in all the other things like you said.
Posted by: Wild Thing at June 23, 2007 01:13 AM
