Agent Ramos' Family Reacts To Possible Earlier Release Date
El Paso Border Patrol Agents Jose Compean and Ignacio Ramos are scheduled to be free on March 20 after President George W. Bush issued a commutation. But officials with the Federal Bureau of Prisons say that day may come earlier.

The two Border Patrol agents were sentenced to 11 plus years in prison for shooting and wounding an unarmed illegal immigrant drug runner.

Four years of investigation and lobbying lie on this table in Joe Loya's office. Loya is Agent Ignacio's Ramos' father-in-law who never stopped defending him. On Friday afternoon, he received news that the March 20 release date may come earlier.

"I know I've heard the rumor and we're praying. We're certainly praying and we welcome it," said Loya.

It's not a rumor, but a good possibility. As KFOX reported, Bush set March 20 as the date when he issued a commutation. On Friday, KFOX confirmed with the Federal Bureau of Prisons that Ramos and Compean may be allowed to transfer to a halfway house or into home confinement.

"If he comes home, even in home confinement, I'm sure they would welcome it and they wouldn't care if they had to stay home day and night," said Loya.

As KFOX reported, Ramos was attacked while serving time on Feb. 2007. He was targeted by illegal aliens retaliating against him for his work as a border agent. Loya says he just wants him to come home to make up for lost time.

"The little one, he's 9 years old now. He was five when this incident happened. He's missed the most beautiful years of his life without his dad," said Loya.

Ramos is serving time from a federal prison in Phoenix and Compean from the federal prison in southeast Ohio.

Copyright 2009 by KFOXTV.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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