Texas lawmakers seek clemency for border agents who shot unarmed Mexican drug smuggler

06:12 PM CST on Thursday, January 15, 2009
By TODD J. GILLMAN / The Dallas Morning News
tgillman@dallasnews.com

WASHINGTON — Texas lawmakers issued a near-unanimous plea Thursday for President George W. Bush to free two Border Patrol agents who shot an unarmed Mexican drug smuggler.


(photo) AP File 2007
Former U.S. Border Patrol agents Jorge Compean (left) and Ignacio Ramos are serving prison sentences for shooting an unarmed drug smuggler in 2005. Both Texas senators and all but two of 32 House members from Texas signed a letter urging Bush to commute the agents’ sentences before he leaves office Tuesday.

“We appeal to your good reason and sound judgment as fellow Texans,â€