A pardon for an immigration law-breaker

By Michelle Malkin  •  December 24, 2008 11:55 AM

One last open-borders gesture from the shamnesty White House:

A South Texas rancher got a good-news phone call Tuesday about a presidential pardon that wipes away a felony conviction for hiring undocumented workers to harvest his watermelons 16 years ago.

“I really don’t know why or anything,” said John Allen Aregood, of Riviera, a ranching town about 11 miles south of Kingsville. “It’s just a good Christmas present.”

He was one of 19 people granted pardons Tuesday by President George W. Bush.

The only Texan on the list, Aregood paid a modest fine and served two years of probation after his conviction for aiding and harboring unauthorized immigrants.

Aregood, 64, is no longer is in the watermelon business and said he has never met Bush.

But quite a few people wrote to the Justice Department supporting his pardon application, which a friend inside the agency helped advance, he said.

(link)

24ahead notes that Border Patrol agents Ramos and Compean will spend Christmas behind bars.

Posted in: Amnesty

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Comments


  1. #577226
    On December 24th, 2008 at 11:57 am, Ed Mahmoud abu al-Kahoul said:

    Pardons for drug smugglers, frauds, everyone but Ramos and Compeon.

    There is one guy named Winters, posthumous pardon for helping get old US aircraft to Israel during their war against Arab aggression after the UN declared an Arab state and a Jewish state in “Palestine” from the British mandate.

  2. #577227
    On December 24th, 2008 at 11:57 am, happyscrapper said:

    I was so hoping for pardons for Ramos and Compean! Is Bush all done giving the pardons, or is there still a chance? What in the world is his reason for not pardoning these two men?? I have never really heard from him on this issue. That was my biggest gripe about him…his total lack of communication about anything! Good riddance to him.

  3. #577228
    On December 24th, 2008 at 11:58 am, ajmontana said:

    That just bites President Bush didn’t get those two out for Christmas. Shame, Shame, Shame. :(

  4. #577229
    On December 24th, 2008 at 11:58 am, b-cat said:

    his conviction for aiding and harboring unauthorized immigrants.

    Why not? The “unauthorized immigrants” will soon get one.

  5. #577232
    On December 24th, 2008 at 11:59 am, RTater said:

    Ramos and Campeon continue to serve more than a decade in prison each.

  6. #577234
    On December 24th, 2008 at 12:00 pm, happyscrapper said:

    On December 24th, 2008 at 11:57 am, Ed Mahmoud abu al-Kahoul said:
    Pardons for drug smugglers, frauds, everyone but Ramos and Compeon.

    There is one guy named Winters, posthumous pardon

    So Bush has no problem pardoning dead people, but those who are suffering in jail for doing their jobs…let them rot. I am so mad at him right now, it has wiped out any feeling of good will I had toward him during his presidency.

  7. #577235
    On December 24th, 2008 at 12:00 pm, feebiebabe said:

    24ahead notes that Border Patrol agents Ramos and Compean will spend Christmas behind bars.

    Unjust.

  8. #577237
    On December 24th, 2008 at 12:02 pm, jrgdds said:

    On December 24th, 2008 at 11:57 am, Ed Mahmoud abu al-Kahoul said:

    Pardons for drug smugglers, frauds, everyone but Ramos and Compeon.

    My thoughts exactly. To say I am more disappointed every day that I voted for that guy.

  9. #577240
    On December 24th, 2008 at 12:04 pm, tre said:

    Border Patrol agents Ramos and Compean will spend Christmas behind bars.

    He makes it harder all the time to remember the good he’s done.

  10. #577243
    On December 24th, 2008 at 12:06 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

    I have to hope he is waiting for 11am on January 20th to pardon Ramos and Campean, like Clinton did with what’s-his-face. By the time anyone finds out, he won’t be president anymore.

  11. #577248
    On December 24th, 2008 at 12:11 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    Ramos and Compeon made the mistake of not owning a lettuce farm – isn’t that right Chertoff?

  12. #577270
    On December 24th, 2008 at 12:30 pm, traveler49 said:

    This was meant to be a kick in our gut and it had the intended results.

  13. #577272
    On December 24th, 2008 at 12:34 pm, GaryG said:

    Bush’s legacy will be that he destroyed America by allowing the influx of illegals.

  14. #577275
    On December 24th, 2008 at 12:39 pm, Phiber0p said:

    Bush is a big turd…

    if he does not pardon Ramos and Compean.

    I wonder if ol’ Scooter gets one too?

  15. #577283
    On December 24th, 2008 at 12:51 pm, happyscrapper said:

    On December 24th, 2008 at 12:34 pm, GaryG said:
    Bush’s legacy will be that he destroyed America by allowing the influx of illegals.

    I’m afraid you may be right! One of the biggest problems we face in this country is illegal aliens infiltrating our sovereign nation, contributing to the waste and pollution, sending their money home to Mexico, refusing to assimilate or speak English, demanding more and more every day, crowding our schools and medical facilities, draining our social services, and putting very little money back into the U.S. coffers. And let’s not forget the National Security issue! The fact that GW has not recognized the problem and taken direct and effective measures to solve it, will be a lasting and shameful legacy and blot on his Presidency.

  16. #577287
    On December 24th, 2008 at 12:58 pm, MBuck said:

    Excuse me for a moment while I stomp around spitting and cussing.

    ———–

    Ok, I’m fine now. Why, no, I’m just fine with Bush’s choices for pardons; why do you ask?

  17. #577294
    On December 24th, 2008 at 1:07 pm, mchristian said:

    To say I am more disappointed every day that I voted for that guy.

    You can say it and even convince yourself of it but don’t forget what our alternatives were.

    http://www.ack.net/080708Democraticfund.html

  18. #577300
    On December 24th, 2008 at 1:24 pm, stoptheinvasion said:

    this is Boosh just spitting directly in our faces for scuttling his precious illegal alien amnesty last year.

    what a total scumbag that disgusting man is, forcing good men to be railroaded and rot in prison for doing their jobs.

    hope everyone is clear what Boosh thinks of honest Americans like you and me who don’t want our nation invaded and given over to illegals and Mexico by a craven insane jerk who somehow got to be president.

  19. #577304
    On December 24th, 2008 at 1:30 pm, beenthere said:

    Here’s a video of our border control efforts. We’ve come a long way from Bush II and his nanny here. Enjoy.

  20. #577312
    On December 24th, 2008 at 1:46 pm, talkin_bout said:

    Darn! Beat me to it, beenthere.

  21. #577313
    On December 24th, 2008 at 1:49 pm, torabora said:

    Bush just has an aversion to ANYONE liking him.

  22. #577314
    On December 24th, 2008 at 1:49 pm, malkin_fan said:

    We have 1 month to get Ramos and Compean pardoned. We must start calling and writing anyone with an R next to their name and let them know THEY need to communicate with the powers that be that if there is no pardon for Ramos and Compean then there will be no $$$$$ for the RNC EVER AGAIN.

    MONEY TALKS and B.S. walks.

    If Bush does not pardon Ramos and Compean I will NEVER give a cent to ANY Republican ever again.

  23. #577315
    On December 24th, 2008 at 1:51 pm, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

    If yoou could find an extra dollar or two both the Ramos and Compean families are hurting–they need more help with the legal bills.

    The Bureau of Prisons has allowed Ignacio Ramos take several beatings from the gangs because his father-in-law is not “Co-operative” and really pushing the issue.

    We almost had another border agent convicted here in Arizona for shooting an attacker. Jury told the State’s Attorney to take a hike, God Bless.

    Pardons for bad guys only–honest people need not apply. But Ramos and Compean do not come from Quality People and go to Harvard or Yale so I guess they are invisible.

    http://ramos-compean.blogspot.com/

  24. #577317
    On December 24th, 2008 at 1:54 pm, rightwingrocker said:

    On December 24th, 2008 at 1:24 pm, stoptheinvasion said:

    Not sure I’d have put it quite like that, but you sure got right to the heart of the matter.

    a craven insane jerk who somehow got to be president.

    Only because the other options were more craven and insane than he was. How’s that LOTE vote workin’ out for ya?

    Maybe now people will understand what the LOTE vote does. I caught all manner of hell this election cycle for not voting LOTE, but look at what the last eight years of LOTE voting got us. Who can blame anyone for giving up on voting that way.

    Next thing we need to do is get a conservative party together that’s strong enough to get its candidates elected and give the Republicans the finger. Lord knows they’ve deserved it for quite some time now.

    Enough is enough.

    RWR
    http://www.rightwingrocker.com

  25. #577319
    On December 24th, 2008 at 2:00 pm, Mark said:

    Come on people! This man was convicted of “conspiracy to harbor and transport illegal aliens.” If that is what he did then he should rot in prison. If all he did was hire illegals, then this is another abuse of prosecutorial power and Bush was correct to fix it.

    Can we please stop the reactionary commentary? Do we really need to act like liberals?

    We have huge fight on our hands and no one seems to give a damn about how to take it on.

    Bush is done; let’s move on and fix what he screwed up, and stop Obama and his Socialist buddies.

    Perpetual outrages is NOT useful.

    If (and I think that is a big if) Bush pardons Ramos and Campeon it won’t be until the last week of his Presidency. He is too busy trying (still) to make the left happy, and you can’t do that by pardoning people they see as the Devil (assuming they believe in the Devil).

  26. #577320
    On December 24th, 2008 at 2:02 pm, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

    HELP MONICA RAMOS CARE FOR THEIR FAMILY & PAY BILLS:
    Ignacio Ramos
    PO Box 972725
    El Paso, TX 79997

    SEND RAMOS A NOTE: If you would like to send Ignacio a letter in jail, please contact him at

    Ignacio Ramos
    P. O. Box 5888
    Yazoo City, MS 39194

    still looking for the Compean fund; The El Paso address is his father in law–drop him a note.

    New computer and I lost a lot of files.

  27. #577332
    On December 24th, 2008 at 2:36 pm, By Choice said:

    “But quite a few people wrote to the Justice Department supporting his pardon application, which a friend inside the agency helped advance, he said.”

    “A FEW people wrote” well hundreds of thousands of people have writtten, faxed, petitioned the justice department on behalf of Ramos and Compean. Guess it is about WHO you know or how much money you have in this “pardon” bs.

    AND “Mark” all Ramos and Compean did was their government job What they did wrong should have been no more than an administrative slap on the hands. They did NOTHING illegal as did Mr. Aregood. Now do you understand why people go ballistic everytime Bush gives pardons and Ramos and Compean are NOT included?

    They are Bushes legacy–government corruption at the highest level possible!!! Bush has made a mockery of his pardon powers let alone interferring with Justice dept prosecution.

  28. #577337
    On December 24th, 2008 at 2:55 pm, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

    Thank you By Choice .

  29. #577338
    On December 24th, 2008 at 2:56 pm, tiredofit08 said:

    where’s the pukey icon??

    this isn’t justice, it’s injustice!!! and you are absolutely correct “ByChoice” booosh makes a mockery of his pardon powers…hundreds of thousands and a whole lot of congressional members have demanded Ramos and Compean receive at least a commutation and Senior booosh refuses to even consider the case….is it any wonder the border patrol won’t even fire back at those taking pot shots at them for fear of a lengthy jail sentence in solitary confinement!!! shame on you booosh…shame shame shame….

  30. #577343
    On December 24th, 2008 at 3:07 pm, BlameAmericaLast said:

    On December 24th, 2008 at 11:59 am, RTater said:

    Ramos and Campeon continue to serve more than a decade in prison each.

    I’m still holding out hope that he will do an 11th hour pardon on these two…

  31. #577344
    On December 24th, 2008 at 3:10 pm, Socky said:

    Bush, at this point, is just giving the finger to those of us who support Border Security. I think we have a better chance of getting a pardon or a commutation out of Obama than Bush. Obama might pardon them as a gesture to us.

  32. #577346
    On December 24th, 2008 at 3:16 pm, John Deaux said:

    Who knows, what with the way Obama is pissing off the lefties, maybe he’ll pardon them on Jan 20th.

  33. #577353
    On December 24th, 2008 at 3:36 pm, Marc said:

    And yet no pardon for Scooter Libby. The fact that the New York Times so fervently hates Mr. Libby is reason enough to pardon Mr. Libby. If Frank Rich, Nicholas Kristof and the editorial director of the NY Times all hate the same person (as they do with Mr. Libby) then that means the person must be doing something right.
    I have always wondered about Kristof,Rich, Anthony Lewis, et al, how they can go through life so filled with hatred and anger. They don’t have Nixon or Reagan to obsess about so they left with Scooter Libby. If anyone deserves a pardon, it is Mr. Libby.

  34. #577369
    On December 24th, 2008 at 4:32 pm, DagneyT said:

    Libby, Compean, and Ramos all deserve a pardon, or at the very least “time served”. I keep hoping for a “last hours as President” pardons for them! Do the RIGHT thing, Mr. President!

  35. #577370
    On December 24th, 2008 at 4:33 pm, DagneyT said:

    Oh, BTW, it isn’t difficult to mistakenly hire an illegal in Texas. They’re as numerous as cactus in our state!

  36. #577374
    On December 24th, 2008 at 4:50 pm, MrScribbler said:

    It seems very likely that Ramos and Compean are suffering in prison because Jorge Boosh wanted to appease his buddyroos in Mexico City. If that wasn’t so, he could have told his other great pal, Johnny Sutton, to follow the law in persecuting prosecuting them.

    Boosh has lost all respect from me. I hope his “retirement” is as miserable as the fate he inflicted on those two agents.

    A pardon for Deputy Sheriff Gilmer Hernandez, who went to jail for shooting at a van full of illegals (after they tried to run him down) would also be entirely appropriate. After all, it was pressure from South of the Border that got him jailed, too.

    Jorge, you’re doin’ a heckuva job! /s

  37. #577377
    On December 24th, 2008 at 5:05 pm, rightisright said:

    But quite a few people wrote to the Justice Department supporting his pardon application, which a friend inside the agency helped advance, he said.

    do ya think Bush hasn’t received thousands of emails, phone calls and letters in regards to Ramos and Compean and their release. Bush is stubborn, arrogant, ignorant fool= liberal.
    Add this to his legacy: illegal immigration supporter, open boarders, financial bailouts(leading to the bankruptcy of America), never saw a spending bill he didn’t like, farm subsidies, no children left with an education(Bush/Kennedy), and on and on and on.
    He’s the main reason I am no longer a registered Republican, just claim to be a conservative American.
    Gads I’ll be glad when he’s gone, with Odopey, we know up front he’s a Marxist.

  38. #577406
    On December 24th, 2008 at 6:28 pm, combat18 said:

    Well, another case of not what you know, but who you know. Just like the Clintong pardons.

  39. #577431
    On December 24th, 2008 at 8:05 pm, greenLibertarian said:

    That’s our Prez, open-borders rectum ’till the end.

    And don’t forget the policewoman victimized for immigration enforcement a la Ramos and Compean – sorry I forgot her name.

  40. #577510
    On December 25th, 2008 at 7:43 am, Blueline2 said:

    I simply cannot fathom why Pres. Bush might issue pardons to drug traffickers and the like, and refuse to pardon Ramos and Compean. If he leaves office with them still in prison, I will part with all respect for him, and be left with feelings of being used and betrayed. I know Gore and Kerry would have been worse. However, I thought Bush was more decent than to do something like this. My Christian obligations restrain me from wishing Johnny Sutton an eternal punishment for his actions. How has this happened in America? How?

  41. #577538
    On December 25th, 2008 at 11:45 am, dan708 said:

    A pardon for an immigration law-breaker
    By Michelle Malkin • December 24, 2008 11:55 AM

    MM, when I saw this headline, I thought you meant that Bush was pardoning himself! I’m beginning to wish that the Iraqi journalist/shoe-boy had landed one right on his kisser; he deserves no less!

  42. #577546
    On December 25th, 2008 at 11:53 am, happyscrapper said:

    There are many things to praise GW about, and I have done so in the past. But I am so furious over the whole illegal alien issue and his treatment of our border agents, it overrides everything good that he has done. This will be what I remember about him and it is a real shame. What is it about this issue that has so completely blinded him?? The illegals are destroying this country, and the border agents who were trying to capture one of the lowest cockroaches on the earth, a drug smuggler, are in prison. What, in the name of common sense, is GW thinking??

  43. #577561
    On December 25th, 2008 at 12:38 pm, maisy said:

    Bush is the most disgusting example of lawlessness in this country. He embraces drug dealers,thieves,and other lawbreakers while lawmen remain in jail.
    He looks like hell and no one deserves the stress he wears as much as he does…..he will be remembered as the linchpin to the destruction of this once great country. He makes me sick.

  44. #577598
    On December 25th, 2008 at 4:12 pm, Artbyruth said:

    Here we go again. MM is baiting you all to react to this post instead of respond and I bet she likes your reaction.

    First of all, the man pardoned did what he was sentenced to do. He paid the fine and did probation. Period. If you don’t like the sentence he received, contact the judge who sentenced him. What he did was illegal, he was caught, and he completed his sentence.

    Second, Ramos and Campean aren’t innocent as doves here. They shot a man running away from them and he was not armed. Then they tried to cover up their actions and evidence knowing that what they did was wrong. If they are so innocent, why were they trying to cover up their actions ?

    I think if Pres. Bush pardoned them, that would be great as they have already served time in hell for what they did. But let’s not make it out that what they did was ok. It was not and they knew it that is why they tried to cover their tracks. If anyone should be punished further for this case it is the prosecutor for making a deal with the drug smuggler! But, hello, how is Pres. Bush responsible for this crime??

    Sheesh, people. Get a hold of yourselves!

  45. #577910
    On December 26th, 2008 at 4:12 pm, nlebou said:

    IMHO…Bush will not pardon Ramos and Campean because he and Sutton are buddies. Just my 2 cents.

  46. #577912
    On December 26th, 2008 at 4:17 pm, nlebou said:

    Artbyruth….How do you know the drug smuggler did not have a gun? The 2 agents say he did. It is their word against his. I know who I believe.

    The law that was used to convict them was never meant for law enforcement officers. The trial was a sham. I have read a lot of the transcripts of that trial and something is not right there.

  47. #578561
    On December 29th, 2008 at 9:21 am, Bhishma said:

    On December 24th, 2008 at 1:07 pm, mchristian said:

    You can say it and even convince yourself of it but don’t forget what our alternatives were.

    Don’t forget that corrupt politicians can always be impeached.

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