Resources
National Security

Lucas Applauds President Bush’s Decision to Commute Sentences of Former U.S. Border Agents

Jan 21, 2009
National Security
Press

Washington, DC – Monday, President George W. Bush granted clemency to two former U.S. Border Patrol agents, Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, who were convicted of shooting an admitted drug smuggler Osvaldo Aldrete Davila, injuring him.  The two agents were sentenced to 10 years in jail, a punishment many believed was much too harsh for their actions.  They have served about two years of their sentence.

“I applaud President Bush, in one of his last acts in office, for commuting the sentences of Border Patrol agents Ramos and Compean,” stated Lucas.  “Their sentences were unnecessarily harsh when compared with the charges against them.  This was the right thing to do.”

During the trial, the two agents argued they believed the drug smuggler was armed and dangerous and they shot at him in self-defense.  Mr. Davila fled the two agents after having abandoned a van filled with marijuana he was attempting to smuggle into the country.  The prosecution claimed the agents attempted to cover-up the shooting.

“Our Border Patrol agents risk their lives every day to keep this country safe from drug smugglers and criminals who attempt to cross our border,” stated Lucas.  “While proper oversight into their actions is necessary, we should not create an air of fear of prosecution for doing their job.”

During his eight years in office, President Bush granted 189 pardons and 11 commutations.  Before him, President Bill Clinton issued 457 pardons during his eight years in office.

# # #

Recent Posts

Sep 24, 2024
Economy

Gensler and Peirce Disagree on Treasury Clearing Implementation

Washington, DC – Today, at a Financial Services hearing entitled Oversight of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Congressman Lucas, SEC Chair Gary Gensler, and SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce discussed the need to extend Treasury clearing timelines. While Chair Gensler did not say, Commissioner Peirce agreed with Congressman Lucas that there is a need to extend these […]

Sep 23, 2024
Press

Lucas, Mullin Welcome $5.5 Million Investment to OSU to Enhance Weather Prediction

Cheyenne, OK – The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) awarded Oklahoma State University (OSU) $5.5 million as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024. The purpose of these funds is to increase knowledge about local weather systems in the lower atmosphere, enabling the safe integration of small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Advanced […]

Sep 18, 2024
Press

Lucas Honors NASA’s Hidden Figures at Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony

Washington, DC – Today, House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Frank Lucas attended a Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony, where he had the opportunity to honor the Hidden Figures, a group of women crucial to the space race. These women helped calculate the Apollo 11 mission to land the first astronaut on the moon. Medals […]