Bipartisan Border Patrol resolution shelved

As soon as a bipartisan resolution hit the floor of Congress last week calling for the pardon of two Border Patrol agents convicted of a shooting in 2005, the Democratic leadership bottled it up in committee, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher said Monday

The bill, sponsored by William Delahunt (D-Mass.) with co-sponsorship from Silverstre Reyes (D-Texas) and Rohrabacher, was the first such bipartisan gesture since agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean were served with 11 to 12 year prison sentences for shooting an accused smuggler in the back, Rohrabacher said.

“The significance of the resolution is that it is truly a bipartisan effort,” he said. “Up until this point, this has basically been a conservative Republican cause.”

The bill was shelved this week after Rohrabacher lamented the efforts of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, whom he blamed for lobbying the resolution into political limbo.

“The [Democratic] leadership has gone along with the Hispanic Caucus and their claim that Ramos and Compean are guilty of police brutality,” he said.

“Instead of being proud Mexican-Americans who are defending our border, the Hispanic Caucus is portraying them as simple, brutal cops who are committing police brutality.”

The shooting victim, Osvaldo Aldrete-Davila, was charged last month with possession with intent to distribute marijuana in September and October 2005.

Rohrabacher hopes the Democrats on the judiciary committee will consider the resolution if they receive enough encouragement from voters.

“If there’s enough negative feedback, I think that position could change,” he said.

“But at this point we’re very happy we’ve got several Democrats who have stepped forward now and provided some leadership. It’s too bad that the leadership of their party has undercut their efforts.”

CHRIS CAESAR may be reached at (714) 966-4626 or at chris.caesar@latimes.com.