Rohrabacher, colleagues plead for border agents

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher and nine of his colleagues on Capitol Hill again took up the cause of two convicted Border Patrol agents Wednesday to pressure President Bush to release the men before he leaves office.

Rohrabacher has long crusaded for Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, who are serving decade-long sentences for shooting drug smuggler Osvaldo Aldrete-Davila as he tried to run away and then trying to cover it up. On Wednesday, he pleaded with U.S. Atty. Johnny Sutton to support a commutation of their sentences.

“As Johnny Sutton has said in his own words, this punishment is excessive,” Rohrabacher said. “Millions of Americans, members of Congress, Republicans and Democrats have spoken ... the time is short, Mr. Sutton. Time is short Mr. President. Let’s right the wrong.”

Joining him in the news conference were Reps. William Delahunt (D-Mass.), Ed Royce (R-Fullerton), Brian Bilbray (R-Carlsbad), Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine), Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), Michael McCaul (R-Texas), Steve King (R-Iowa), Dan Burton (R-Indiana), and Walter Jones (R-North Carolina).

Sutton has said he considered the punishment too harsh, but has explained that the minimum sentencing guidelines were set by Congress.

Tara Setmayer, a spokeswoman for Rohrabacher who has matched her boss’ passion for the cause, pointed out that while their efforts started with conservative activists angered about illegal immigration, it has drawn interest from liberal prison-reform activists.

“And, I have to say, my work on this case has definitely caused me to rethink my opinions” on mandatory minimum sentences, Setmayer said.

Ramos’ and Compean’s backers are hopeful that their more liberal supporters can continue the appeal into President-elect Barack Obama’s administration, Setmayer said, adding that Obama’s chief-of-staff choice Rahm Emanuel has in the past joined efforts on behalf of the agents as a congressman.

As for the agents, Setmayer said she talked to Ramos recently and that he was in very poor spirits.

“All I can do is reassure him there are people fighting to the bitter end for him,” she said.

— Paul Anderson