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In this section, you will find links to Special Reports, by FOBP, the NBPC, the FOP, DHS, GAO, and others. Thank you for your continued support and for visiting our website.

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Congressional Guest Commentary

BORDER WARS

By: U.S. Representative Judge Ted Poe (TX-02)

Washington, Jan 23, 2008- CLICK HERE TO WATCH JUDGE POE's SPEECH

We removed the text of the speech due to the length. However, we encourage you to watch the video we've provided.

Who's Side Are We On?

By: U.S. Representative Judge Ted Poe (TX-02)

More news from the second front: the battle for the border continues and our government is on the wrong side. The fate of two Texas Border Agents are on the line as a result of our government putting the rights of an illegal drug smuggler before those of American citizens. What is to become of our country when our own government takes sides with illegals?

Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean were convicted of assault with serious bodily injury and a civil rights violation in the wounding of a Mexican National who was fleeing from them after smuggling 800 pounds of marijuana into the United States. The incident took place in the small town of Fabens, Texas, about 40 miles south of El Paso. Sentencing for these two men has been postponed until October of this year and the fight for their freedom has garnered the attention of lawmakers across the board.

This week I joined several of my colleagues in sending a letter to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to conduct a complete investigation into the case. One of the most disturbing aspects in the prosecution of this case was that the illegal drug smuggler, Osbaldo Aldrete-Davila, was granted full immunity to testify against U.S. Border Agents, Ramos and Compean. In a United States court of law, an illegal drug smuggler's word was given more credibility than that of two American citizens who have sworn to enforce and uphold our laws. To add insult to injury, Aldrete-Davila was given complete medical care at the William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, courtesy of the U.S. taxpayer. And if that were not enough, Aldrete-Davila is now suing the United States Border Patrol for violating his civil rights to the tune of $5 million.

While waiting free to testify, Aldrete-Davila was arrested again for drug smuggling and once again given immunity from the prosecutor. As a former judge, I do not believe anyone, including law enforcement, is above the law. However, I also do not believe that is in the best interest of the law to place the credibility of a drug smuggling illegal who attacked and ran from the law above the testimony of sworn law enforcement officers. One thing that is consistent is that Ramos and Compean testified that Aldrete-Davila had a gun, but the prosecution felt that the violation of border patrol policy to chase a criminal outweighed the fact the agents were confronted with a situation they believed to be life-threatening. I strongly believe a full investigation into this case and the policies of the U.S. Border Patrol are critical. The government's aggressive prosecution has further diminished any faith law enforcement has in them and the American public's trust in their ability to secure our borders.

The prosecutor in this case appears to be working for the Mexican government instead of the American people. Agents Ramos and Compean, and thousands like them, put their lives on the line everyday to stop illegals like Aldrete-Davila from violating our laws and smuggling drugs, guns and humans into our country. The federal government fights them every step of the way making our border agents nothing more than highly trained Wal-Mart greeters. Without the will of the government to recognize our borders, we will cease to be a country at all. The American people are sick to death of the invasion of our country and the political correctness that has eroded the American culture. The one nation, indivisible by God that stands for liberty and justice is being replaced with a nation of individual societies pledging allegiance to foreign countries. It is time to take back our borders and our country. Ramos and Compean deserve medals for what they did and should be sent back to the border to bag another drug dealer. That's just the way it is.

* Note - The following commentary is a letter we received that we have to share. It is from a Border Patrol agent who has served in Texas and wants to share a personal story so that everyone understands the character of Agents Nacho Ramos and Jose Compean. The letter been edited solely to protect the agent's identity as this case has proven, if you're an agent and do the right thing, you face punishment at the hands of the Bush Administration.

I am a Border Patrol Agent in Texas. I started my career as an Agent in Texas. I am writing to you to thank you on behalf of the Agents in Texas and all the other Agents who risk their lives every day on the line to make America a safer place to live.

I have witnessed first hand, in seeing one of our border patrol agents fall at the hands of a narcotic smuggler. Senior Patrol Agent Jefferson Barr was shot and killed while trying to apprehend a narcotic smuggler down by or borders. Jefferson Barr was known to the Eagle Pass Agents as being an Outstanding Agent. Agents with less seniority looked up to this man for his experience and knowledge of the job. He was often considered by other Agent as being an Agent you would want by your side if you needed any kind of back up. He was our "Green Angel" and Agents felt a sense of security when he was around. Jeff Barr was also a family man and often thought of his wife and kids whether at work or at home. He would find and capture wild critters and take them home to his kids. There was never a bad comment said about Jefferson Barr. If I ever wanted to be compared to another Agent it would have to be Jeff.

When I arrived in Texas I got the opportunity to work with Ignacio "Nacho" Ramos and Jose Compean. They are also both senior border patrol agents and I had the opportunity to work both illegal alien and narcotic traffic with them. I also had the opportunity to see them work with trainee border patrol agents who have just started their carrier. Just as Jefferson Barr, trainees would show their appreciation to agents Ramos and Compean.

Trainees would often talk about the long work days they would put in with Ramos and Compean. Trainees would talk about sitting in a drainage ditch or a cotton field, in the rain, for hours, waiting for illegal aliens or narcotic smugglers to penetrate our borders. Trainees would talk about the respect they had for these Agents in the professionalism, knowledge, and experience both Ramos and Compean had for the job. I have also seen first hand the compassion both with Ramos and Compean. I have seen both agents offer their lunches to illegal aliens who were apprehended out in the desert and were hungry. I am positive when I say Ramos and Compean are considered "Green Angels" to border patrol agents who have worked with them. Both Ramos and Compean are family men just as Jefferson Barr was. How do you justify telling your kids that your daddy was sent to prison for trying to apprehend a narcotic smuggler? How different could it be from saying your daddy was killed by a narcotic smuggler just as Jeff's wife had to tell his kids.

Border Patrol Agents put their life's on the line everyday to make this country safe for us to live in. We are about to lose two of our "Green Angels" to a justice system that has failed us. We mourn for these two Agents and we spit on the narcotic smuggler who made Americas Justice system his own.

Friends of the Border Patrol	www.FOBP.US

Andy Ramirez, Chairman