President Bush this week added a convicted methamphetamine dealer, a cocaine distributor and two marijuana suppliers to the list of drug operators he's pardoned while in office, bringing his total of drug suppliers who have been pardoned or had their sentences commuted to 36.
U.S. Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean are serving 11- and 12-year prison sentences, respectively, for shooting and wounding—in the line of duty—an illegal alien drug smuggler trying to bring over 720 pounds of marijuana across the border.
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Bush:
I know I speak for millions of other Americans with this letter urging you to pardon or commute the sentences of Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean - the two Border Patrol agents currently serving prison terms of 12 and 11 years respectively.
Do this, sir, as a merciful act of compassion.
Offering these two men mercy is not an admission of any wrongdoing on your part or on the part of your Justice Department.
It's just the right thing to do.
This letter is not written to reopen old wounds or renew an argument about who was right and who was wrong. It is written to heal wounds and end the arguments.
You have offered dozens of pardons already as your second term winds down. On Jan. 20, 2009, you will hand over the reins of power to a new president. But before you do that, you have absolute, unquestioned authority to make whole the lives of some hurting people. In addition, you can restore confidence in our judicial system in the minds of many Americans who can't sleep at night as they consider the suffering and anguish being experienced by the Ramos and Compean families.
I urge you to do this because the Ramos and Compean sentences are not proportionate.
I urge you to do this because you have compassion in your heart.
I urge you to do this as a way of bringing healing to our country.
I urge you to do this, most of all, for the sake of the wives and children who are punished as severely as the imprisoned agents because of their continued incarceration.
The clock is ticking.
January 20 is right around the corner.
Please find it in your heart to restore officers Ramos and Compean to their wives and children before you leave office.
Sincerely,
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