U.S. District Judge Fortunato Pedro "Pete" Benavides of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, sitting in Austin, Texas, said the imprisoned Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean "had not shown unique or unusual circumstances that justify their release based on an exceptional reason."

Follow this link to the original source: "Judge denies freedom plea by jailed ex-agents"

On February 24, 2007, a federal appeals court judge denied a motion by former U.S. Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean that they be released from prison pending appeals in their convictions for shooting a drug-smuggling suspect. Ramos, 37, and Compean, 28, were sentenced to 11- and 12-year prison terms for shooting Osbaldo Aldrete-Davila as he fled back into Mexico, after abandoning 743 pounds of marijuana.

Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean sought release pending the outcome of their appeals. The motion was denied by U.S. District Judge Fortunato Pedro Benavides of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Austin, Texas. Incredibly, Judge Fortunato Pedro Benavides said the men "had not shown unique or unusual circumstances that justify their release based on an exceptional reason."

Let's analyze this:

• Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean are imprisoned along with drug dealers and illegal aliens

• Ramos was assaulted on February 3 by fellow inmates at the Federal Correctional Complex in Yazoo City, Miss. The inmates, who beat Ignacio Ramos, were shouting, in Spanish, "kill the immigration officer" while they kicked and punched him

• Ramos himself had to go report the incident, and even after doing so, he wasn't given any medical treatment for four days

• His injuries were downplayed by the administration even though Congressman Tom Tancredo made a personal trip to the facility and verified the serious nature of those wounds

In addition to these outrages, Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean were convicted on the testimony of drug smuggler Osbaldo Aldrete-Davila, who was granted immunity to testify. When three jury members wanted to vote for acquittal they were mis-instructed and intimidated into voting with the rest.

DHS Inspector General Richard Skinner admitted under oath that they had lied about having evidence that did not exist.

The three Border Patrol agents, who were given immunity to testify against fellow agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean, have since terminated employment, when it was determined that they had lied. Agents David Jaquez and Arturo Vasquez were fired on January 29. A third agent, Oscar Juarez, reportedly resigned from the agency last month shortly before he was to be fired.
 
Keep all of that in mind when considering that Judge Fortunato Pedro Benavides said the men "had not shown unique or unusual circumstances that justify their release based on an exceptional reason."

How much longer will Americans let this gross injustice go on?

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