Protecting the Border For Illegals and Drug Smugglers

Imagine that you work for the Border Patrol and that a big part of your job involves stopping the flow of illegal immigrants and illegal drugs from crossing the border. Imagine further that as part of your training you become Task Force certified from the DEA, collect hundreds of arrests and thousands of pounds of drug seizures, and get nominated for Border Patrol Agent of the Year. Now imagine that as part of your 'routine' you and your partner encounter a suspected illegal crosser in a suspicious looking van. Your years of experience and training alert you that something is amiss. This does not seem to be a typical migrant worker. Now the man leaps from his van and attacks your partner. Now the man is coming at you with what seems to be a gun in his hand. As he rushes towards you you fire your weapon, not to kill, but to disable. Yet the man swerves away and rushes back across the border into Mexico. Once you and your partner regain your composure, you check out the van and find 800 pounds of pot. Another successful day at the office, right?

Wrong. At least according to the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security. Instead of recognizing these two men for doing their job, these agencies of the Bush Administration decide to level charges against these guardians of the border. They even go so far as to grant the illegal crossing drug smuggler immunity to testify against the two men. Of course, as part of the deal, none of the drug smugglers actions become admissable, and neither do the service records and training skills of the agents.

A Texas jury convicted the pair of assault with serious bodily injury; assault with a deadly weapon; discharge of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence; and a civil rights violation. Compean and Ramos also were convicted of four counts and two counts, respectively, of obstruction of justice for not reporting that their weapons had been fired.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Kanof said, Ramos and Compean had no business chasing someone in the first place. "It is a violation of Border Patrol regulations to go after someone who is fleeing," she said. "The Border Patrol pursuit policy prohibits the pursuit of someone."

Unless you ask the Border Patrol...

(Such claims as the Asst. U.S. Attorney's) appears to fly in the face of the Border Patrol's own edicts, which include "detouring illegal entries through improved enforcement" and "apprehending and detouring smugglers of humans, drugs and other contraband."

If this is what this adminstration means when it talks about protecting the border, I guess we finally know who it is they are seeking to protect. And here's a hint...it's not the people living north of that imaginary line in the sand. I'll bet recruits for the Border Patrol is going to really skyrocket now.

Welcome to the rabbithole boys and girls. Boy does it feel safe down here.


(cross posted on Bring It On! )