Former Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean tonight are preparing to report to prison. The two men were convicted of shooting a Mexican drug smuggler, partly on the testimony of the smuggler, who was given full immunity by the Justice Department to testify against the agents.

Casey Wian reports -- Casey.

CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Lou, there's still no word tonight from U.S. district Judge Kathleen Cardone (ph) on the request by former Border Patrol agents Jose Compean and Ignacio Ramos to remain out of prison while their convictions are appealed. The agents are scheduled to surrender to U.S. marshals in El Paso, Texas, tomorrow afternoon, to begin serving 11 and 12-year sentences.

Their convictions for shooting and wounding an illegal alien Mexican drug smuggler has sparked nationwide protests. Fifty-five members of Congress and nearly a quarter of a million Americans have signed letters and petitions demanding a presidential pardon for the agents.

Texas Congressman Ted Poe, who served 22 years as a felony court judge in Texas, says he's never seen a case like this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. TED POE (R), TEXAS: The reason the members of Congress and 250,000 people have asked for a pardon in this case is because these border agents are in a war zone. They're protecting our southern border.

They're trying to keep the drug dealers out of the country. They were doing their job. There's a conflict on what happened down there on the border, but they're just doing their job and they were prosecuted for that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIAN: Congressman Poe also criticized President Bush for pardoning more than 100 criminals while he's been in office but so far not the Border Patrol agents.

I spoke with Agent Ramos earlier today, and Lou, I must say, it was absolutely heartbreaking. These men vow to keep fighting for justice from prison if necessary, but they are devastated now that they are just hours away from being separated from their families, possibly for more than a decade -- Lou.

DOBBS: And no indication that this White House and this president's attorney general are going to respond in any way to the entreaties of the U.S. Congress?

WIAN: Absolutely no indications. The only good news they got is that the attorney general's office did not oppose the request to remain free on bail while their case is appealed. Supporters of the agents took some hope that that might result in a positive outcome. But so far, we haven't seen it -- Lou.

DOBBS: And any -- any indication that the judge in this case will intervene?

WIAN: No indication at all. We just don't know.

We've called the judge's office. The judge's chambers say they will have absolutely no comment, nothing they can say. No idea whether there's even going to be a ruling. There's a possibility she just may not even act on this motion -- Lou.

DOBBS: Well, the federal prosecutors in this case, in the office of Johnny Sutton, the U.S. attorney general there in Texas, the federal judge, this president, and this attorney general, in my opinion, have a lot of explaining to do and a great deal, in point of fact, to be ashamed of.

Casey, thank you very much.

WIAN: OK.

DOBBS: Casey Wian.

If you'd like to voice your views on agents Ramos and Compean, you can contact the White House directly at comments@whitehouse.gov, or the attorney general at askdoj@usdoj.gov.

If you prefer to make a phone call, you can reach the White House switchboard at 202-456-1414. Ask for the White House comment line.

The attorney general's office can be reached at 202-514-2001.

All of this information, direct routes to your elective representative, your congressmen and your senators, can be found at our Web site, at LouDobbs.com. Easy access and reference directly to your congressman or your senator in your state.

DOBBS: Time now for some of your thoughts.

Jim in Florida wrote in to say, "Ramos and Compean" -- the U.S. Border Patrol agents facing a prison sentence tomorrow after being convicted, principally on the testimony of a drug smuggler given immunity -- "Ramos and Compean should seek sanctuary at a church and demand amnesty for their crimes. Oh, I forgot, sanctuary is only for non-citizens."

And Beverly in Illinois, "Regarding the border guards who have been convicted of doing their job, I wonder how the president can sleep at night knowing that he can pardon these heroic men but instead remain silent and lets a drug smuggler go free."

Donald in Mississippi said, "Lou, I've tried so hard to support our president, but now I see he is unwilling to protect legal citizens of the United States. While he tells us we must protect Iraq and allow democracy to take hold there, we're allowing ours to slip away."

Terry in Illinois: "Lou, it is mind-boggling that our government spends billions of our tax dollars annually on the fight against drugs then grants amnesty to drug lords to prosecute border agents that enforce our drugs laws. Next, they'll grant amnesty to terrorists."

Send us your thoughts at LouDobbs.com. More of them upcoming here later.