DOBBS: Supporters of former Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean are continuing their efforts to free those men from prison. The former agents began serving 11 and 12-year sentences yesterday for shooting and wounding an illegal alien Mexican drug smuggler given immunity by the U.S. Justice Department to prosecute those agents. The government is defending its actions against Jose Compean and Ignacio Ramos.

Casey Wian has our report.

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CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Former Texas Border Patrol agents Jose Compean and Ignacio Ramos have been behind bars for one day, leaving about 4,000 days left on their sentences for shooting a Mexican drug smuggler nearly two years ago. Family members, dozens of federal lawmakers, and more than a quarter of a million supporters blame the Bush administration for siding with the drug smuggler, not the agents.

JOE LOYA, IGNACIO RAMOS' FATHER-IN-LAW: The question is why the government has betrayed him like this after so many years of service with our U.S. Border Patrol, over a hundred drug busts. Never hurt anyone, never hurt anybody. Never shot anyone.

You know, a clean record.

REP. DANA ROHRABACHER (R), CALIFORNIA: Shame on you, Mr. President, for allowing these two brave heroes to go to jail and permitting the drug dealers and the terrorists an open border to the United States.

WIAN: U.S. attorney Johnny Sutton defends his office's prosecution of the agents and grant of immunity to the drug smuggler, citing testimony he was unarmed, posed no threat, and was running away when he was shot. However, Agent Ramos says he testified that the drug smuggler was turning and pointing at the agents as if he had a gun...

IGNACIO RAMOS, FMR. BORDER PATROL AGENT: He went like this. (pointing back towards the agents as it to fire while being sideways)

WIAN: ... and that medical evidence of the smuggler's wound supports that. Both agents say their only regret is not properly reporting the shooting.

REP. BRIAN BILBRAY (R), CALIFORNIA: Now, there might have been a mistake here, but not to the magnitude of almost the viciousness of enforcement on these two agents.

WIAN: The White House apparently refuses to recognize multiple inconsistencies in the case, even while lawmakers demand a presidential pardon.

SNOW: The president has heard the concerns. One of the things that we think is important is that the lawmakers, as they look at case, need to look at the facts of the case.

T.J. BONNER, NATIONAL BORDER PATROL COUNCIL: If people knew all of the facts of the case, they would be even more furious than they are now. The facts prove that these agents were simply doing their jobs, defending themselves against an armed drug smuggler, and yet the U.S. government turns on them with all of its might and resources and prosecutes them, giving the drug dealer a free pass.

WIAN: Bonner says Border Patrol union members in Texas were warned they would be terminated if they called in sick in support of their incarcerated former colleagues.

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WIAN: The appeals process will now move ahead, but not until the court certifies transcripts of the agents' trial. That is expected to happen within the next few weeks.

****NOTE THIS*****And tonight, Lou, President Bush told a local television station in Texas that he would review the case. And he also did not rule out the possibility of a presidential pardon -- Lou.

DOBBS: Well in this case, Casey, you have saved the best for last. This is the first acknowledgement by the president of the entreaty of 55 U.S. congressmen, members of his own party, and the actions that are highly questionable on the part of the U.S. Justice Department from their investigation through their prosecution.

WIAN: Tony Snow was asked about those 55 congressmen today. The president not asked about it directly, as far as we know. But Tony Snow did not indicate that the president would be willing to sit down and meet with those congressmen, as they've asked. But as you mentioned, Lou, this is the first time the president has acknowledged this case, and he says he will review it.

DOBBS: And I frankly cannot recall a time in which a president has been absolutely charged with betraying those agents or any federal employee by this many members of his own party. This is a remarkable historical moment, and one hopes that the White House recognizes it for what it is.

Casey, thank you very much.

Casey Wian. WIAN: OK.

DOBBS: Congressman Duncan Hunter today introduced legislation to pardon those two former agents. Congressman Hunter said, "It is irresponsible to punish them with jail time... this conviction demoralizes our nation's Border Patrol and sends a clear message that we are not serious about protecting our borders and enforcing our immigration laws."

Congressman Hunter is considering a run for the presidency, also asking the Federal Bureau of Prisons to take steps immediately to protect Compean and Ramos while they here in prison. There is concern they may face reprisals from drug smugglers and other felons that they may have apprehended over the years of service to the nation in protecting our border.

That brings us to our poll question tonight. The question is: Do you believe the U.S. government's prosecution of these two former Border Patrol agents based on the immunity given to an illegal alien drug dealer is consistent with this administration's support of open borders and amnesty for illegal aliens? Yes or no?


Time for one quick e-mail.

Carol in Ohio: "Had I known that I was voting for a president who continuously holds the rights of Mexicans over the citizens of his own country, I would never have voted for him. I'm beyond disgusted and outraged."