Response from US Represenative Eddie Bernice Johnson
Dear
Thank you for writing me regarding your thoughts on the conviction of former U.S. Border Patrol Agents Jose Alonso Compean and Ignacio Ramos. I appreciate you taking the time to contact me regarding this important issue.
As you may already know, on February 17, 2005 former U.S. Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean were on duty along the U.S./Mexican border when they were involved in the shooting of a Mexican national who was allegedly transporting marijuana. According to the U.S. Department of Justice's Western District of Texas Attorney Johnny Sutton both Agents were convicted and sentenced because "they had fired their weapons at a man who had attempted to surrender by holding his open hands in the air." Based on the evidence presented at the two-week trial, a jury unanimously found both defendants guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of eleven of the twelve counts.
According to U.S. Attorney Sutton, the laws of the United States make it a crime for law enforcement to use excessive force in apprehending suspects. It is also a violation of any person's Constitutional rights to shoot at them after they have attempted to surrender, knowing that they are unarmed and pose no danger to the officers or anyone else. As a Member of Congress, I strongly believe that the rule of law should be upheld to all persons. Hence, I have confidence that both the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. court system have done their duty in order to uphold justice and liberties and rights of all involved in this matter.
Again, thank you for contacting me about this important issue. Please fell free to contact me in the future about any matter that is important to you.
Sincerely,
Eddie Bernice Johnson
Member of Congress
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