Jose Compean
José Alonso Compeán (born 1976) is a former
Events
Compeán was patrolling a section of border with Ramos when they spotted a man crossing the border. They stopped him in a van containing 743 pounds of
Trial and aftermath
The two officers were arrested after the drug smuggler,
The arrest, trial, conviction and imprisonment of Compeán and Ramos has created a firestorm of controversy from those opposing illegal immigration. Efforts have been launched in the
On November 15, 2007, Aldrete Dávila, the man shot by Ramos, was arrested at a border crossing in
Appeals
The two men appealed their case to the
Attorneys for Compeán and Ramos argued, that among other factors, Aldrete Dávila was improperly allowed to assert his rights against self-incrimination in the trial.
They charged that in the written immunity deal with prosecutors, he was given immunity against any charges thus removing the possibility of self-incrimination during Compeán's trial.[10]
During oral arguments before the three-judge appeals panel, Judge E. Grady Jolly remarked that "For some reason, this one got out of hand it seems to me ... It does seem to me like the government overreacted here."[4][11][12]
Disposition (sentence commuted)
On January 19, 2009, President Bush commuted the sentences of Jose Compean and Ignacio Ramos.[13]
Petition for pardon
Although Bush commuted the two men's sentences, he did not grant them a full pardon, thus leaving Compean and Ramos with criminal records that made it hard for them to find jobs.[14] In September 2017, US Congressman Duncan D. Hunter wrote a letter to president Donald Trump asking him to give both men a full pardon.[15] Trump granted both men full pardons on December 22, 2020.[16]
See also
References
- ^ Riechmann, Deb. (January 19, 2009). "Bush commutes prison sentences of 2 former US border agents". Startribune.com. Associated Press. Archived from the original on January 23, 2009.
- ^ "Former el Paso Border Patrol Agents Released from Prison - News Story - KFOX el Paso". Archived from the original on February 21, 2009. Retrieved February 17, 2009.
- National Archives.
- ^ a b Carroll, Susan (4 December 2007). "Ex-agents get boost in court". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2007-12-08.
- ^ a b c Kunzleman, Michael (2007-12-03). "Appeal Heard in Border Agents' Shooting". Washington Post.
- ^ a b c "Mexican Drug Smuggler Shot By Border Agents Indicted on Drug Smuggling Charges". FoxNews.com. 2007-11-16. Retrieved 2007-12-07.
- ^ "Tonight's Facts: Border Drug War". CNN.com. 2007-07-26. Retrieved 2007-12-07.
- ^ Guilot, Louie (2007-12-06). "Resolution introduced to free Ramos, Compeán". elpasotimes.com. Retrieved 2007-12-07.[permanent dead link]
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ Guilot, Louie (2007-12-02). "Immunity deal key in Ramos, Compean appeal". elpasotimes.com. Retrieved 2007-12-07.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Guilot, Louie (2007-12-04). "Judge calls prosecuting ex-agents an overreaction". elpasotimes.co. Retrieved 2007-12-08.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Statement of U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton following today's oral argument before the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in RE: United States of America v. Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean" (PDF). United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas website. December 12, 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 8, 2008. Retrieved 2007-12-08. (PDF file)
- ^ "Bush commutes prison sentences of former US Border Patrol agents in drug dealer shooting". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on January 23, 2009. Retrieved January 19, 2009.
- ^ "Rep. Hunter asks Trump to pardon border patrol agents who covered up their shooting of drug smuggler". 27 September 2017.
- ^ "Rep. Duncan Hunter urges Trump to pardon ex-Border Patrol agents". Fox News. 28 September 2017.
- National Archives.
Legal transcripts
- Transcript of the Sentencing: United States vs Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compeán (PDF file)
- Transcript of the Verdict: US vs Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compeán (PDF file)