Washington, D.C. – In a letter today to U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, Third District Representative Walter B. Jones (R-NC) expressed outrage over the Justice Department’s unacceptable prosecution of two U.S. Border Patrol agents for simply doing their jobs to protect our homeland.

“Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean should have been commended by our government for their actions last year in attempting to apprehend a Mexican drug smuggler fleeing back to the Mexican border with over 800 pounds of marijuana in his van,” Jones wrote. “But because of an incomprehensible prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office – including granting full immunity to the smuggler so he could testify against our agents – these men now face 20-year prison sentences for returning fire after the smuggler turned a gun on them.”

“The smuggler – who received complete medical care at William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, Texas – is now suing the Border Patrol for $5 million for violating his civil rights! In his spare time, he has returned to his drug smuggling ways, was recently arrested and is now in custody,” Jones continued.

“The Justice Department’s outrageous prosecution does nothing but tie the hands of our Border Patrol and prevent them from securing America against a flood of illegal immigrants, drugs, counterfeit goods and quite possibly, terrorists,” Jones wrote. “This situation cries out for oversight, and I am hopeful that the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Justice and my colleagues on the House Judiciary, Homeland Security and International Relations Committees will look into this matter.”

“In the meantime, I strongly urge you to immediately do everything in your power to halt this prosecution, and to reign in the attorneys in your office who are putting drug smugglers ahead of our homeland security,” Jones concluded.

For additional information or to schedule an interview with Congressman Walter B. Jones please contact Kathleen Joyce at (202) 225-3415.